As millions of Nigerians begin their end-of-year journeys, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has launched a strengthened nationwide operation to remove dangerous drivers and curb high-risk practices on major highways. The initiative is part of the Corps’ annual Yuletide safety campaign designed to reduce crashes during the festive period.
Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed disclosed this during a monitoring exercise in Kaduna on Monday. The visit formed part of the Corps’ Zero Tolerance Special Operation, which focuses on traffic management, strict enforcement, and the immediate removal of erring drivers from the road.
Mohammed explained that the FRSC had deployed additional personnel, patrol vehicles, and logistics to heavily used routes linking Kaduna, Abuja, and Lokoja, following reports of increased traffic flow in recent days. He noted that congestion on the Abuja–Lokoja axis prompted the Corps to intensify its presence there.
“The end-of-year patrol for the Kaduna and Abuja corridor has been extensively reinforced,” he said. “We noticed rising traffic volumes along the Lokoja–Abuja Road over the past three days, and our teams are fully on the ground to manage the situation.”
He added that the Corps also extended monitoring to the Abuja–Kaduna Highway, where ongoing construction could worsen gridlock if not carefully controlled.
“We observed that continued construction activities could disrupt movement, so our presence here is to ensure traffic flows smoothly and avoid avoidable bottlenecks,” he explained.
According to Mohammed, the Zero Tolerance operation is not limited to easing congestion but also focuses on identifying and removing drivers whose behaviour puts other road users at risk.
“We are targeting speeding drivers, those driving under the influence, distracted drivers, and anyone engaging in unsafe conduct,” he said. “Our goal is to ensure that responsible motorists, passengers, and commuters can travel without fear.”
The Corps Marshal confirmed that once the Kaduna assessment was completed, officers would return to the Abuja–Lokoja corridor to sustain enforcement throughout the festive season.
Providing early-morning updates from the monitoring site, Mohammed revealed that although traffic was initially light, volumes typically increase as the day unfolds.
“Traffic is currently manageable, but we anticipate a buildup. Our early presence allows us to resolve issues before they escalate,” he noted.
Mohammed also raised concerns about overloading, especially the common but dangerous trend of mixing human passengers with goods on trucks.
He stated that the Corps had intercepted several cases during the operation.
“We found instances of mixed loading on this route, and we are ensuring that passengers riding on top of trucks or amid goods are brought down and moved into safer vehicles,” he said.
The FRSC boss confirmed that all sector commanders across Nigeria have been directed to deploy personnel early and remain present at areas known for frequent congestion or crashes throughout the festive period.
According to him, reports from the past three days indicate that FRSC officers—both regular marshals and volunteers—are actively engaged nationwide.
“Our teams are fully mobilised, managing traffic and assisting travellers. This operation will continue through the festive season and into January,” he said.
Mohammed appealed to drivers to maintain discipline, patience, and respect on the roads. He urged commuters to stay calm, avoid aggressive driving, and support fellow road users.
He further stressed that the Corps would not condone bullying or intimidation of any kind.
“We will not tolerate hostile behaviour on the highways,” he warned. “Any driver found harassing or endangering others will be promptly removed to ensure everyone reaches their destination safely and enjoys the holiday season without incident.”
