The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said on Thursday that statistics recorded nationwide between January and September showed that 7,715 road traffic crashes occurred.

The corps said this represented 10.04 per cent, compared to 7,011 crashes that occurred in the same period in 2024.

FRSC Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed disclosed this while launching the “ember months” campaign in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital.

According to him, 24,674 persons sustained varying degrees of injuries, compared to 22,373 who were injured in 2024.

“This also reflects a 10.28 per cent increase and also 3,915 persons killed in 2025 as against 3,811 that were killed in 2024, indicating an increase of 11.55 per cent.

“However, in Rivers, within the same period, 15 persons were killed and 51 persons injured out of 47 reported cases of road crashes,” he said.

Mr Mohammed said that the figures, when compared to the 2024 record, represent a 35.7 per cent decrease in fatalities and a 37.5 per cent decrease in road crash-related injuries.

According to the FRSC boss, the figures for Rivers, in particular, reflect an improvement in emergency response and road safety awareness.

Speaking on the campaign theme, “Take Responsibility for Your Safety. Stop Distracted Driving,” he cited responsible factors, such as mobile phone usage, eating or drinking while driving, emotional stress, and driver fatigue.

Mr Mohammed listed some of the measures taken by the agency to curb road crashes, such as a mobile app for reporting reckless driving and accessing safety features.

He said other measures included advanced operations and public enlightenment campaigns, community-based interventions to address human factors responsible for road traffic crashes, and mass deployments, as well as free vehicle service checks and motor park rallies.

The FRSC boss commended the Rivers government for its commitment to road safety and infrastructure development.

He said the campaign would run for several weeks, with various activities and events to promote road safety and reduce fatalities.

The Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG), Benibo Anabraba, said that the state government recognised the crucial role of road networks in the state’s socio-cultural and economic development.

Mr Anabraba, who represented Governor Siminalayi Fubara, said the Rivers government was committed to investing in the safety of roads and waterways and combating armed robbery at sea.

(NAN)