Nigeria, Mali, Zambia, Benin, others join forces to tackle road safety

Nigeria, Mali, Zambia, Benin Republic, Cameroon and other African countries have joined forces to tackle rising road crashes across the continent.

The agreement was reached at the unveiling of the secretariat of the African Association of Road Safety Lead Agencies (AARSLA) and the West African Road Safety Organisation (WARSO) yesterday at the headquarters of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Abuja.

FRSC Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed said the secretariat signalled Nigeria’s commitment to continental leadership and regional integration.

Mohammed also said the milestone aligned with Nigeria’s foreign policy direction under President Bola Tinubu, which emphasises regional cooperation, strategic partnerships and Africa’s leadership in global affairs.

“It also reflects the core objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda: promoting safety, strengthening institutions and improving the quality of life for our citizens.

“This event represents the fulfilment of a commitment I made in June last year in Lusaka, Zambia, during the first General Assembly of AARSLA, when Nigeria emerged as the host nation of the executive secretariat.

“I pledged then that the Federal Road Safety Corps would provide a befitting secretariat. Today, we are proud to deliver on that promise.

“It is equally noteworthy that Nigeria, through the FRSC, has served as the secretariat of WARSO for the 15 member states in West Africa since its establishment in 2008.

“With this inauguration, both WARSO and AARSLA are now co-located in a fully furnished secretariat, symbolising unity of purpose and efficiency in continental coordination.

“The establishment of this secretariat is a clear demonstration of Nigeria’s commitment to continental leadership and regional integration, which are key pillars of our foreign policy. It reinforces our role as a hub for capacity building, knowledge exchange and technical cooperation in road safety management across Africa,” he added.

In addition, Director General of the Centre National de Sécurité Routière (CNSR), Benin Republic, Ariel Sacramento, called for stronger collaboration among African countries to address road crashes.

Sacramento said the gathering was not merely ceremonial, but a recognition that no country could tackle the challenge alone.

“Benin Republic was also a founding member of WARSO and held its secretariat for almost a decade. We believe in regional and continental cooperation. By working together—across borders, sharing the same realities—we can accelerate our efforts and deliver meaningful, lasting impact.

“I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the World Bank for its unwavering support to AARSLA and to road safety initiatives across Africa.

“I also wish to warmly congratulate Nigeria for hosting the headquarters of AARSLA, and to extend our deep gratitude for offering the continent the facilities we are inaugurating today,” he added.