To effectively address road safety challenges, Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, says there is need to sustain commitment, sound policy frameworks, and strong collaboration among all stakeholders.
Oborevwori said this at the 2026 Annual National Workshop for Proprietors and Instructors of Driving Schools, organised by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Asaba.
The theme for the workshop was ‘Professional Driver Education Using Innovative Training Models to Improve Road Safety and Reduce Fatalities in Nigeria’.
Oborevwore, represented by the Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Onoriode Agofure, commended the FRSC for organising the important national programme.
According to him, the programme is strategically focused on strengthening professional driver education and improving road safety outcomes across Nigeria.
‘Road safety remains a matter of critical national importance. Globally, road traffic crashes continue to rank among the leading causes of death and injury, particularly among young and economically productive populations.
‘Beyond the tragic human toll, road crashes impose significant economic costs through healthcare expenses, loss of productivity, property damage, and long-term socio-economic consequences for families and communities.
‘One of the most critical pillars of road safety management is driver’s education and training.
‘Drivers are the most active participants in the road transport system, and their knowledge, skills, and attitudes largely determine how safely our roads are used.
He said that driving schools occupied a strategic and indispensable position in shaping driver behaviour and promoting a culture of safety, discipline, and responsibility on our roads.
‘When drivers are properly trained, they are more likely to comply with traffic regulations, exercise patience and discipline, understand the dangers associated with risky driving behaviours, and prioritise the safety of all road users.
‘Conversely, inadequate or poorly regulated driver training often leads to increased road traffic crashes and avoidable loss of lives.
‘I commend the sustained efforts of the FRSC in strengthening the driving school which is aimed at ensuring that Driving Schools across the country operate in line with established standards and global best practices.
He said that the workshop would reflect a forward-looking approach that emphasised innovation, competency-based instruction, and sustainable management models for driving schools.
‘I am particularly pleased that this workshop will address critical areas necessary for building a modern, efficient, and professional driver education system capable of producing competent and safety-conscious drivers for our growing transport sector.
‘At the sub-national level, we recognise that road safety is a shared responsibility requiring synergy between federal institutions, state governments, the private sector, and the general public.
‘We remain fully committed to supporting initiatives that enhance transportation safety, improve mobility, and safeguard the lives of our citizens.
‘We will continue to collaborate closely with the FRSC and other stakeholders in implementing policies and programmes that strengthen road safety culture and improve transportation systems across our communities.
He said that effective driver education is not only about licensing, it is directly linked to national productivity, economic growth, and internal security.
‘A well-trained driving population enhances the efficiency of logistics and supply chains, supports safe movement during national assignments, and reduces disruptions caused by road traffic incidents’, he said.
Also, FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the theme of the workshop, ‘Professional Driver Education Using Innovative Training Models to Improve Road Safety and Reduce Fatalities in Nigeria’, reflected the corps’ determination to modernise driver training in Nigeria.
The FRSC boss, represented by the Assistant Corps Marshal (ACM) Felix Theman, said road traffic crashes remained one of the most serious public safety challenges confronting nations across the world.
He noted that unsafe driver behaviour, inadequate training, poor understanding of traffic regulations, and weak driving culture significantly contributed to the crash burden in Nigeria.
According to him, the current reality places enormous responsibility on driving schools, which represent the primary institutions responsible for preparing drivers before they enter the nation’s road transport system.
‘In Nigeria, despite sustained efforts by the Federal Road Safety Corps and other critical stakeholders, road traffic crashes continue to pose a major concern.
‘Operational data and crash investigations conducted by the corps consistently show that human factors remain the most dominant cause of road traffic crashes, accounting for the majority of incidents recorded on our roads.
‘Indeed, the safety of our roads begins with the quality of training drivers receive at the driving school level’, he said.
The Deputy Corps Marshal (Training), Abiodun Akinlade, said the quality of driver training was one of the most decisive factors in reducing road traffic crashes, fatalities, and injuries.
Represented by the Delta Sector Commander, Corps Commander Charles Edem, he said a significant share of crashes in Nigeria was linked to human factors, including poor driver knowledge and weak adherence to safe driving culture.
Akinlade said the FRSC introduced the Driving School Standardisation Programme (DSSP) as a regulatory framework to ensure driving schools operate in line with approved standards and global best practices.
He urged participants to embrace innovations from the workshop to improve training practices and strengthen institutional capacity, adding that a well-trained driving population contributed to safer roads, economic productivity, and national security.
