Vehicle overloading endangers lives, damages roads, FRSC warns

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has cautioned that overloading of vehicles poses significant risks to lives, road infrastructure, and Nigeria's transportation economy. During the National Breakfast Policy Dialogue and launch of the National Movement for Safe Loading and Safe Roads, FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, emphasized that overloading is not merely a traffic violation but a broader concern of road safety, infrastructure, logistics and economic development.

He explained that excessive loads compromise vehicle stability, increase crash risks, and prematurely deteriorate roads. Mohammed warned against improper loading, including the incorrect combination of passengers and cargo, incompatible materials, and poorly secured or unevenly distributed loads. He stressed that the challenge is especially critical in the haulage and logistics sector, where operators may be tempted to prioritize maximizing every journey over safety.

The Corps Marshal highlighted the importance of road safety for economic development, stating that no reduction in transportation costs or commercial benefit is worth compromising human lives. He urged all stakeholders, including cargo owners, shippers, loading agents, transporters, fleet operators, drivers, regulators, and government, to accept responsibility for the safety consequences of their actions.

The FRSC pledged to strengthen enforcement, public education, and stakeholder engagement while leveraging technology and data to improve compliance. The National Movement for Safe Loading and Safe Roads aims to be a collaborative national effort involving various sectors to ensure clear responsibilities, measurable commitments, timelines, and mechanisms for monitoring progress, culminating in the adoption and signing of the Abuja Declaration 2026.