PRNigeria Fellows Hail FRSC Reforms, Seek Stronger Road Safety Communication
Members of the PRNigeria Young Communication Fellowship (PYCF) have commended the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Shehu Mohammed, for introducing far-reaching reforms that have transformed the Corps into a technology-driven, citizen-focused institution through policy innovation, digital transformation and improved personnel welfare.
The commendation came during a courtesy visit and facility tour of the FRSC Headquarters in Abuja, where the fellows interacted with the Corps Marshal on road safety, strategic communication and behavioural change.
Led by Samira Mohammed and Chilakpu Zoe Chinemeremebere, the fellows congratulated Mohammed on the extension of his tenure, describing the decision as a reward for merit and consistent performance in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s policy of retaining high-performing heads of paramilitary agencies.
They noted that within less than two years in office, the Corps Marshal had repositioned the FRSC through reforms that improved operational efficiency, strengthened institutional reputation and accelerated the adoption of technology-driven road safety management.
The fellows also referenced the FRSC’s recent recognition in the Public Affairs category at the 2026 National Spokespersons Awards, saying their assessment of the Corps’ activities revealed significant achievements under Mohammed’s leadership.
According to them, the Corps has recorded notable progress through policy reforms, digital innovation and personnel-focused initiatives, including the introduction of a paperless electronic document management system, deployment of body cameras for patrol officers, expansion of rescue services and the adoption of predictive, technology-driven road safety enforcement.
Responding, the Corps Marshal appreciated the visit and urged the young communicators to become ambassadors of road safety by supporting the Corps’ nationwide sensitisation campaigns.
Mohammed disclosed that nearly 5,000 Nigerians lose their lives annually in road traffic crashes, with about 80 per cent of the victims below the age of 30, describing the statistics as disturbing and calling for stronger preventive measures driven by public education and behavioural change.
He stressed that road safety could not be achieved through enforcement alone, urging communication professionals to help address the underlying social and economic factors that influence road users’ behaviour.
According to him, poverty, low literacy levels and limited access to affordable transportation often contribute to risky practices on Nigerian roads.
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The Corps Marshal expressed concern over the increasing practice of passengers travelling on top of trucks and other goods vehicles, noting that many resort to such dangerous options because they are cheaper than conventional transportation.
He also decried the transportation of people, animals and goods in the same vehicles, describing it as a major safety challenge requiring sustained public enlightenment and stronger enforcement.
Mohammed urged researchers, journalists and communication professionals to go beyond reporting accidents by examining the underlying causes of crashes and promoting evidence-based interventions.
“Go down to the grassroots to know what’s actually happening,” he told the fellows, stressing the importance of understanding the realities confronting road users before designing communication campaigns and safety interventions.
The Corps Marshal further linked road safety to national security, highlighting rail transportation as a safer alternative to road travel. He, however, expressed concern over the vandalism of railway infrastructure, warning that such acts undermine public investment and efforts to reduce pressure on the nation’s highways.
The visit formed part of the official study tours under the annual PRNigeria Young Communication Fellowship, designed to expose participants to real-world communication practice and public-sector operations.
The fellows also toured strategic FRSC facilities, gaining first-hand insight into the Corps’ operational processes, emergency response mechanisms and road safety interventions.
The engagement provided participants with practical knowledge of how strategic communication can influence public behaviour, strengthen institutional reputation and contribute to safer roads, particularly among young Nigerians.
Launched in 2024 by Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR), publishers of PRNigeria, Economic Confidential and Spokespersons Digest, the PRNigeria Young Communication Fellowship is a fully funded, two-week residential programme aimed at nurturing the next generation of ethical journalists, public relations practitioners and strategic communicators.
The fellowship admits 30 young Nigerians annually—10 each from Abuja, Ilorin and Kano—for intensive training in news writing, multimedia storytelling, public relations, crisis communication, fact-checking, media law, public speaking and the application of artificial intelligence in journalism.
The 2026 edition attracted 691 applications for only 30 available slots, underscoring the programme’s growing reputation as one of Nigeria’s most competitive youth media development initiatives. Endorsed by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) and the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC), the fellowship has produced alumni who now serve as media aides, newsroom editors, communication officers and journalists across the country.
By PRNigeria
