Sultan urges FRSC marshals to adopt data-driven strategies to curb road crashes

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has urged the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Special Marshals to embrace data-driven interventions, strengthen strategic partnerships and improve operational efficiency to reduce road traffic crashes in Nigeria.

The Sultan made the call on Saturday through his representative, Aminu Bala Sokoto of the Sultanate Council, at the 2026 Special Marshals Zonal Conference of FRSC RS-10 in Sokoto.

The conference, themed “Repositioning Special Marshals for Greater Impact Through Strategic Partnership and Data-Driven Road Safety Interventions”, brought together stakeholders from Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states to discuss strategies for improving road safety advocacy and strengthening volunteer services.

Represented by Aminu Bala Sokoto, the monarch said Special Marshals needed to move beyond traditional volunteer activities and adopt a coordinated, proactive and results-oriented approach to road safety.

He emphasised the importance of collaboration among government agencies, transport unions, private organisations, schools, traditional rulers, religious leaders and community groups in expanding public awareness and promoting compliance with traffic regulations.

“Strategic partnership involves working closely with government agencies, transport unions, private organisations, schools, traditional rulers, religious leaders and community groups to pool resources, share expertise and expand road safety awareness,” he said.

The Sultan described road traffic crashes as a major concern because of their devastating consequences, including loss of life, injuries and economic hardship.

He said addressing the problem required collective responsibility, effective collaboration and evidence-based interventions.

According to him, Special Marshals play important roles in public enlightenment, traffic management support, community engagement and emergency response but need regular training, adequate safety equipment, motivation and a clear understanding of their responsibilities to perform effectively.

The monarch also stressed the need to use reliable data to identify accident-prone locations, dangerous driving behaviours and vulnerable road users.

He urged Special Marshals to document and report road safety observations through approved FRSC channels to enable relevant authorities to identify high-risk areas and develop targeted interventions.

He added that digital reporting tools and GPS technology could improve communication, documentation and the deployment of road safety resources.

On accountability, the Sultan said the performance of Special Marshals should be measured by the quality of their activities, public awareness achievements, hazards reported and improvements in road safety practices.

He advocated regular training, standardised reporting procedures, continuous public enlightenment and recognition for volunteers who made outstanding contributions.

“Our success should not be measured merely by the number of campaigns we conduct but by the positive impact we make in protecting lives and preventing road traffic crashes,” he said.

The Sultan called on stakeholders to work together towards creating safer roads, stressing that protecting road users required shared responsibility.

Similarly, the FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, represented by the Zonal Commanding Officer of RS-10, Assistant Corps Marshal Fredrick A. Ogidan, said strategic partnerships and reliable data were essential to addressing emerging road safety challenges.

He identified population growth, increased vehicle ownership, urban expansion and changing road-user behaviour as factors requiring modern, technology-driven and evidence-based approaches.

“The responsibility of promoting road safety cannot be borne by the Federal Road Safety Corps alone,” he said.

He urged Special Marshals to strengthen collaboration with government institutions, transport operators, educational institutions, professional bodies, faith-based organisations and community leaders to improve road safety education, emergency response and post-crash care.

Mohammed also encouraged members to improve data collection, documentation and reporting to ensure that road safety interventions were guided by reliable information rather than assumptions.

He said Special Marshals were well-positioned to support research, public feedback and observational studies because of their close engagement with communities.

The Corps Marshal further highlighted the 2025 Special Marshals Guidelines as a framework for promoting accountability, transparency, leadership development and improved coordination within the scheme.

He urged stakeholders to sustain capacity-building initiatives, strengthen engagement and provide adequate operational support to enable volunteers to contribute more effectively to national road safety objectives.

He also commended Special Marshals for their sacrifices and contributions, noting that their volunteer services complemented the Corps’ efforts to protect lives on Nigerian roads.

Earlier, the Sokoto State Coordinator of Special Marshals, Sanusi Usman Wadata, said the conference provided an opportunity for members to renew their commitment to saving lives through public enlightenment, stakeholder engagement and evidence-based interventions.

“Today is not merely a gathering, but a celebration of service, partnership and our shared commitment to saving lives on our roads,” Wadata said.

The National Coordinator of Special Marshals, Engineer Adaji Usman, whose message was delivered by Wadata, urged members to remain dedicated to their volunteer responsibilities, particularly public enlightenment and traffic control.

The conference was attended by representatives of the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Customs Service and Nigeria Immigration Service, as well as sector commanders and Special Marshals from Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states.

Honorary Special Marshals were also identified for decoration at a subsequent ceremony.