BY MUSA IDRIS UMAR, OCTOBER 20, 2025 | 03:07 PM

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Borno State has launched the 2025 Ember Months Public Enlightenment and Sensitization Campaign.

The event took place on Monday at the Special Marshal Conference Hall in Maiduguri.

Sector Commander Corps Commander Usman A. Muhammad said the campaign focuses on promoting safer road use during the last months of the year.

He explained that the Ember months often record an increase in travel, traffic, and road crashes.

The theme for this year’s campaign is ‘Take Responsibility for Your Safety: Stop Distracted Driving.’

Muhammad said the theme was chosen to highlight how human behavior contributes to most crashes.

He added that drivers are often responsible for accidents due to speeding, fatigue, and disregard for traffic rules.

He recalled that during the 2024 Operation Zero exercise between December 15, 2024, and January 15, 2025, fourteen road crashes were recorded in Borno State.

Ten people were killed and seventy-seven were injured during that period.

He said the main causes included driver fatigue, overloading, speeding, and dangerous driving.

‘The 2025 campaign was designed to address violations such as speeding, driving under the influence, seat belt neglect, and phone use while driving,’ he said.

He announced several measures to ensure safer roads during the campaign.

They include deploying more personnel and Special Marshals across highways and high-risk areas.

He also mentioned free vehicle checks in ministries and agencies, as well as rallies and town hall meetings with transport unions and security agencies.

Muhammad said the FRSC has worked with driving schools, fleet operators, and civil society groups to strengthen driver education and road safety advocacy.

He noted that the FRSC Annual Lecture Series was revived this year to raise awareness about road safety as a public health issue.

He also spoke on efforts to solve delays in driver’s license and vehicle number plate production.

He said the FRSC’s printing facility now produces about 15,000 licenses daily and will clear pending applications by mid-November 2025.

He added that a new ‘Contactless Biometric Capture’ system would soon begin, allowing instant license printing and eliminating temporary licenses.

Muhammad said this upgrade will simplify the licensing process and improve service delivery.

He also announced plans to host an international conference on road crash victims for Africa between November 16 and 18, 2025.

The conference is being organized in partnership with the KRSD Road Safety Foundation.

He said it aims to strengthen post-crash care in line with the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety.

Muhammad thanked the Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, for his leadership and support to field officers.

He also commended Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, for improving the state’s road network through road construction, flyovers, and ring road projects.

‘These projects show the government’s commitment to making Borno roads safer for all road users,’ he said.

He called on drivers and other road users to obey traffic laws and avoid risky behavior.

‘With collective responsibility, we can make our roads safer and save more lives,’ he said.

He then declared the 2025 Ember Months Campaign open.