By Sarah Momoh
Nigeria has once again taken the lead in continental road safety, as the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has been officially named the Permanent Secretariat of All African Road Safety Lead Agencies (AARSLA).
The landmark announcement was made at the 1st General Assembly of AARSLA, held in Lusaka, Zambia, from June 26 to 27, 2025. The designation is a major milestone in Africa’s collective efforts to strengthen road safety governance, coordination, and innovation across the continent.
With this recognition, Nigeria through the FRSC will now coordinate the activities of national road safety lead agencies across Africa, promote regional collaboration, and spearhead the implementation of the African Road Safety Action Plan.
Speaking at the event, Corps Marshal Dauda Ali Biu, who received the designation on behalf of Nigeria, described the recognition as a testament to FRSC’s consistent leadership and commitment to road safety.
“This is not just a recognition of Nigeria’s progress, but a call to lead Africa into a new era of road safety transformation,” Biu said. “We are committed to working with every African nation to strengthen policy frameworks, expand capacity-building initiatives, and leverage technology for safer roads.”
Biu highlighted that the FRSC’s digital transformation, evidence-based enforcement strategies, and sustained public awareness campaigns will form the backbone of the Secretariat’s operations. He also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his administration’s steadfast support of the FRSC’s mission and vision.
The decision to create a permanent continental secretariat was first discussed during the General Assembly of the Sub-Saharan Africa Transport Policy Program (SSATP) in March 2025, in Cotonou, Republic of Benin. SSATP, a 43-member platform supported by the World Bank, African Union Commission (AUC), and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), has been at the forefront of transport policy development in Africa for more than three decades.
The Lusaka resolution is aligned with the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021–2030, which aims to halve global road traffic deaths and injuries by the year 2030. With Nigeria now playing a central role, Africa is better positioned to meet these global targets.
This latest recognition builds on FRSC’s growing reputation. Earlier in the year, the Corps received the prestigious Best Road Safety Agency in Africa award at the Kofi Annan Road Safety Awards held in Ezulwini, Kingdom of Eswatini further solidifying its status as a regional trailblazer in road safety advocacy, enforcement, and innovation.
The FRSC is now calling on African governments, international development partners, civil society organizations, and private-sector stakeholders to join hands in advancing a safer and more sustainable transport environment across the continent
