By Daphne Uduneje

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has thrown its weight behind the Federal Government’s transition to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and electric vehicles (EVs), describing the initiative as a major catalyst for investment, job creation and Nigeria’s transition towards a cleaner and more sustainable transport economy.Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Shehu Mohammed, said the Presidential initiative on CNG and EVs was already stimulating investments across the automotive value chain, ranging from vehicle assembly and manufacturing to the production of CNG cylinders, conversion kits and other mobility technologies.Speaking on the sidelines of the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) summit, Mohammed said the transition was not merely a transportation policy but a broader economic and environmental intervention capable of creating opportunities for young Nigerians while supporting Nigeria’s commitments to global sustainability targets.According to him, the initiative aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly the climate action objective under SDG 13, while contributing to the broader goal of developing safer, accessible, affordable, reliable and sustainable transportation systems.The Corps Marshal noted that the emerging clean-mobility ecosystem was already attracting significant investment into Nigeria.“Really, it’s a massive investment that is coming into Nigeria, and also producing massive jobs for the massive unemployment that we have.”Mohammed pointed to the emergence of vehicle assembly and manufacturing operations, as well as businesses producing CNG cylinders and conversion kits, as evidence of the expanding industrial opportunities associated with the energy transition.Beyond the direct automotive industry, he said the shift towards alternative-fuel mobility was creating a need for technical skills and specialised expertise, potentially opening a new employment pipeline for Nigerian youths.For the FRSC boss, therefore, the CNG and EV transition should be viewed not simply as a change in the type of vehicles Nigerians drive, but as an opportunity to build an ecosystem around cleaner mobility, manufacturing, technical services and human-capital development.Infrastructure remains criticalMohammed, however, stressed that the success of Nigeria’s mobility transformation would ultimately depend on infrastructure.He expressed optimism that ongoing and proposed investments in major road corridors, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway, alongside rehabilitation of roads across the country, would strengthen the foundation for a more efficient national transportation system.He linked these developments to the United Nations’ sustainable transport aspirations, particularly the objective of ensuring safe, accessible, affordable, reliable and sustainable transport for all.“We are moving towards that,” he said, urging Nigerians to support policies designed to modernise the nation’s transportation infrastructure and mobility system.The implication for the business community is significant. As Nigeria’s transportation ecosystem moves towards CNG and electric mobility, opportunities are likely to extend beyond vehicle sales to include component manufacturing, conversion services, charging and refuelling infrastructure, technical training, maintenance, energy supply and other supporting services.Road safety: Beyond enforcementWhile technology, infrastructure and cleaner vehicles remain central to the transformation of Nigeria’s transportation system, Mohammed maintained that road safety would continue to depend heavily on human behaviour.He recalled that public education and sensitisation had been among the FRSC’s cardinal mandates since its establishment more than three decades ago. However, he acknowledged that the country still has considerable ground to cover.According to him, road safety cannot be treated as the responsibility of the FRSC alone.“Road safety agenda, road safety principle shouldn’t be left to the FRSC alone. It should be a collective responsibility, a holistic responsibility for all Nigerians to come on board,” he said.He called for stronger participation by governments at the federal, state and local levels, traditional institutions, community leaders, transport operators, passengers and ordinary citizens in building a stronger road-safety culture.The Corps Marshal argued that enforcement alone cannot address deeply entrenched practices such as speeding, overloading, dangerous driving and the transportation of passengers, goods and animals together in inappropriate vehicles.He also drew attention to regional differences in literacy and public awareness, particularly in relation to dangerous transportation practices involving trucks and trailers.Mohammed said the government and community leadership structures must intensify public education, particularly at the grassroots, to close these gaps.FRSC takes road-safety campaign to the grassrootsTo deepen its public-awareness strategy, the FRSC has expanded its engagement beyond conventional sensitisation at motor parks and garages.Mohammed said the Corps had introduced town-hall engagements designed to bring together drivers, passengers, community leaders and other citizens in direct conversations about responsible road use.The strategy, he explained, is based on the understanding that road safety becomes more effective when communities take ownership of the process.Rather than relying solely on enforcement officers to identify violations, he wants citizens themselves to speak up when they encounter dangerous driving.If a driver is speeding or engaging in unsafe practices, passengers should challenge the behaviour instead of remaining silent, he said.This approach, he believes, could gradually create a culture in which dangerous driving becomes socially unacceptable, rather than one where citizens wait for enforcement officers to intervene.Four years to the 2030 targetThe urgency of the campaign is underscored by Nigeria’s commitment to the global road-safety target of reducing road traffic deaths and injuries.Mohammed called for intensified collaboration with the media and other stakeholders as Nigeria enters a critical period leading to 2030.“We are almost more than halfway,” he said, noting that with only four years remaining to the 2030 target, the country must accelerate efforts to reduce crashes, fatalities and injuries.The Corps Marshal also highlighted the human and financial cost of road crashes involving FRSC personnel themselves.He said the Corps incurs substantial medical expenses treating personnel who are knocked down while performing their duties, while some officers have lost their lives after being struck by motorists.For him, the issue is therefore not merely about statistics but about protecting the lives of those charged with protecting other road users.Media as a strategic partnerMohammed identified the media, particularly motoring journalists, as an important partner in the national road-safety campaign.He commended the Nigerian Auto Journalists Association for providing a platform for sustained engagement between the FRSC and the public, stressing that accurate and responsible journalism remains essential to shaping public understanding of road-safety issues.He urged journalists to continue reporting the facts and providing clarity around developments in the country’s road transportation sector.His appeal reflects a broader understanding that road safety requires more than regulations and enforcement. It requires sustained public communication capable of changing attitudes and behaviour.Partnership, technology and people as legacyLooking ahead, Mohammed said his approach to leadership at the FRSC is anchored on consistency and sustainability.He identified three core pillars of his administration: building a technology-driven organisation, developing highly trained personnel and strengthening the Corps’ role in projecting Nigeria’s image.He said these principles would remain intact even as the organisation reviews and reorganises its strategies where necessary to improve performance.His ultimate objective, he stressed, remains the reduction of road traffic crashes and injuries.“Whatever we are doing is about life,” he said.For Mohammed, the legacy he hopes to leave behind extends beyond individual achievements. It is centred on partnership, collaboration and developing the capacity of FRSC personnel to serve Nigerians more effectively.As Nigeria navigates the intersection of clean mobility, infrastructure development, industrialisation and road safety, the Corps Marshal’s position points to a critical reality: the success of the country’s transportation transformation will depend not only on the vehicles and infrastructure being deployed, but also on the institutions, businesses, professionals and citizens that operate within the emerging ecosystem.The transition to CNG and EVs may be opening a new chapter for Nigeria’s automotive economy, but ensuring that the transformation delivers safer, cleaner and more inclusive mobility will require the same level of commitment across the entire road-transport value chain.