The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Malam Shehu Mohammed, has reiterated the agency’s determination to tackle the spread of fake driving schools across Nigeria.
Mohammed made this known on Monday during the 2025 national workshop for driving school proprietors and instructors held in Abuja.
He explained that the initiative forms part of broader efforts to enhance road safety and reduce accidents, noting that human error remains the primary cause of road traffic incidents.
He emphasised the importance of proper driver education through certified institutions as a means of minimising such errors and improving safety on Nigerian roads.
“We have been on this for a long time. You cannot completely eliminate fake driving schools, but with efforts such as this, we will reduce crashes to the barest minimum. Our focus is to identify and support genuine driving schools that have the capacity to transform driver’s behaviour and reduce road crashes,” he stated.
Mohammed also highlighted the relevance of the safe systems accord initiative, which recognises the inevitability of human error while promoting systems designed to accommodate such lapses without fatal consequences.
According to him, driving schools represent the first line of defence in ensuring drivers are equipped to operate vehicles safely, and ongoing training is essential.
“If we continue to train drivers and retrain them properly, we will build a generation of motorists who are alert, skilled and capable of managing risk,” he said.
He revealed that the ongoing engagement with driving school operators is part of a wider campaign targeting key cities such as Lagos, Osogbo, and Kano.
Following these sessions, the FRSC plans to consolidate feedback and best practices to develop a framework aimed at ensuring consistent quality in driver education and achieving a notable decline in road crashes.
Mohammed expressed optimism that the initiative would strengthen collaboration among stakeholders committed to upholding safety standards and restoring credibility to driver training.
“We hope that from these discussions, a strong community will emerge to support our mission of safer roads,” he said.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, called for the institutionalisation of standardised training for drivers and riders across the country.
Represented by the Mandate Secretary of the FCT Transportation Secretariat, Dr Elechi Chinedum, Wike stressed the importance of reducing traffic accidents and supporting national development.
He praised the FRSC for its ongoing efforts to promote highway safety, particularly through the Driving School Standardisation Programme (DSSP), which provides regulatory oversight for driving school operations nationwide.
He described the workshop’s theme, “Entrenching Highway Safety in Nigeria through Standardised Drivers and Riders Training,” as timely, noting the essential role of transport in national development and economic growth.
“It is my distinct honour to commend the FRSC for its commitment to promoting highway safety, especially through the DSSP which regulates driving school operations. Transportation is the lifeblood of economic and social activities, yet thousands of Nigerians lose their lives or suffer injuries due to poor training of the drivers. Effective training and continuous capacity development for instructors are crucial to producing safe, skilled and responsible road users,” he said.
Wike added that standardising driver education would not only reduce crashes but also open economic opportunities and save lives.
(NAN)