By Olatunde Ajayi
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has urged proprietors and instructors of driving schools to uphold professional standards in driver education to curb road crashes and promote safer highways.
FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, made the call at the opening of the 2026 national workshop for driving school proprietors and instructors on Monday in Ibadan.
He said that the theme of the workshop, “Professional Driver Education Using Innovative Training Models to Improve Road Safety and Reduce Fatalities in Nigeria”, reflects 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 remain 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 contribute 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), DCM Abiodun Akinlade, said the quality of driver training is one of the most decisive factors in reducing road traffic crashes, fatalities, and injuries.
Represented by the Oyo Sector Commander, Corps Commander Kehinde Dahusi, he said a significant share of crashes in Nigeria is 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 contributes to safer roads, economic productivity, and national security.
Earlier, Gov. Seyi Makinde, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Public Works and Transport, Prince Adegoke Adenrele, said that driving schools remain strategic to shaping driver behaviour and promoting a culture of safety on the roads.
He urged the participants to take full advantage of the workshop through meaningful engagements and adopt innovative approaches that would elevate the standards of driver training in Nigeria.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that driving school proprietors and instructors from Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Kwara and Ekiti states participated in the two-day workshop. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
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