The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Akwa Ibom command, has said that no fewer than 6,000 unclaimed driver’s licenses were in its possession.

The state sector commander, Francis Ajatta, made the disclosure during the 2025 Ember Months sensitisation campaign on Friday in Uyo.

Mr Ajatta said that out of the unclaimed number, about 1,000 had expired, as the owners have not come for collection, appealing to those who had applied for their driver’s license to come for collection.

The sector commander, however, assured the people that the issue of unclaimed driver’s licences would be a thing of the past.

He disclosed that the organisation had activated plans to overcome the perennial challenges associated with delays in obtaining the driver’s licence.

“Our printing facility has been upgraded to print an average of 15,000 driver’s licences daily.

“This production average will be increased to clear the backlog and stop further delay in the production of driver’s licences,” Mr Ajatta said.

Mr Ajatta called on drivers and all motorists to obey traffic rules and regulations during the ember months.

He reminded the people of the 2025 Ember Months campaign theme, “Take Responsibility for Your Safety: Stop Distracted Driving,” which reinforced the view that human factors are one of the major causes of road crashes.

The sector commander urged drivers to avoid speed limit violations, driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs, use of phones and other driver-related causes of road crashes.

Thanking the government of Akwa Ibom State for the provision of good road infrastructure, he noted that it is a plus in tackling the occurrences of road crashes.

“I wish to state unequivocally that the issue of road carnage will be a thing of the past should everyone of us decide to obey all road traffic rules and regulations,” he said.

In his remarks, deputy state commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Otu Umoessen, warned drivers against drug abuse.

Mr Umoessen stated that driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol gives drivers a poor sense of judgement, as they would drive without observing road signs and obeying speed limits.

In his contribution, village head of the Nnung Ukot Itam community in the Itu Local Government Area, Ezekiel Japhath, urged drivers to see ember months as a festive period and not a time to cause crashes on the roads.

He stressed the need for drivers to obey all road signs and remember their families while on the road.

Chairman of the Foodstuffs Traders Association in Akwa Ibom State, Etim Inyang, called on the FRSC to audit all bad federal roads in the state and present the same to the federal government for urgent intervention.

Mr Inyang added that some of the road crashes occurred due to bad roads.

(NAN)