The REFORMS of Road Safety Management.

Problem: On its return to democratic governance in 1999, Nigeria was reputed to have the
second highest rate of accidents and fatalities from road accidents in the world. 

Reform Actions:
- Establishment of Federal Road Safety Corps
- Revamping of the National Uniform Licensing Scheme
- Launching of new Biometric Drivers Licence
- Better Highways Enforcement
- Establishment of Modern Emergency Centre
- Adoption of the Nigeria Road Safety Strategy (204-2018)
- Adoption of the Road Transport Safety Standardisation Scheme (RTSSS)
- Installation of Speed Limiting Devices in vehicles
- Introduction of a standard School Bus Policy

Main Achievements: While the revamping of the National Uniform Licensing Scheme (NULS), the introduction of new biometric drivers’ licence and the establishment of an emergency call centre with toll-free line 122 were all significant reform measures; the core function of improving road safety and reducing accidents and fatalities only started to improve in 2009. Figures from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) show that road accidents and fatalities consistently went up from 2005 to 2008. Figures from the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) show that, in 2010, the reforms reduced road traffic crashes by 50% and also reduced deaths from road crashes by 28%. Similarly, road traffic carnage (RTC) reduced by 11% and deaths from road crashes declined by 8% in 2011.

Key Challenges: 
(a) lack of driver and vehicle testing; 
(b) drivers’ licence have been made tortuously difficult to obtain, thereby encouraging corruption; 
(c) weak enforcement of regulations on speeding, overloading, and dangerous driving; and 
(d) deep unpopularity of the new number plate policy. 

Reference:  Public Service Reforms in Nigeria (1999-2014) - A Comprehensive Review

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