Abuja, Nigeria – 18 November 2025

In a landmark step for road safety in Africa, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP) have signed a license agreement officially launching NigeriaRAP, the country’s first national Road Assessment Programme. The signing took place during the International Road Crash Victims Africa Conference (IRCVAC) in Abuja, held from 13–18 November 2025, coinciding with the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.

The agreement was signed on behalf of FRSC by Eng. Omale Ejah Dandy, Chief Route Commander (CRC) Traffic Engineering, underscoring the Corps’ commitment to safer roads nationwide.

“We are proud of the establishment of NigeriaRAP to improve safer roads in Nigeria,” stated Mr Shehu Mohammed, Corps Marshal of FRSC, during the ceremony.

NigeriaRAP aims to eliminate high-risk roads across the country using iRAP’s globally recognized methodology and tools. Partner-led iRAP assessments have already influenced the safety of US$600 million worth of road infrastructure investment. Improving the safety of school journeys is a strong focus, supported by Star Rating for Schools (SR4S).

The next phase will see FRSC and the team from Kwapda’s Road Safety Demand (KRSD) establish a NigeriaRAP Steering Committee, expand SR4S based on six schools already assessed, and initiate training on Safer Road Engineering (SRE) and SR4S before commencing ground activities.

Honorable Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, Founder of Kwapda’s Road Safety Demand (KRSD) and President of the Court of Appeal of Nigeria, emphasized the human cost behind the initiative, “We have lost so many lives, and our children. NigeriaRAP will support improving safer roads for all users and safer ways to schools for all children in Nigeria.”

Local leadership is key to success in road safety and NigeriaRAP will help to save lives and reduce road traffic injuries by systematically assessing risk on existing roads and road designs, and developing Safer Road Investment Plans to prioritise improvement measures.

Road safety capacity will also be built through training programmes for local stakeholders, integrating iRAP’s globally recognized methodologies, under the guidance of a national steering committee.

The initiative aligns with global efforts to achieve UN Sustainable Development Goal targets to halve road deaths and serious injuries by 2030. It also supports Africa’s ambition to reduce road traffic deaths and injuries. Despite being the least motorized region, it has the highest road traffic fatality rates in the world.

iRAP’s Safer Journeys Lead for Africa, Nathalie Chiavassa attended the event and celebrated the road safety leadership in Nigeria, “The signing of NigeriaRAP is a historic milestone for road safety in the country, and Africa. By combining the Federal Road Safety Corps’ leadership with iRAP’s proven tools and methodologies, we are building a future where every journey in Nigeria is safer. This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to saving lives and creating a world free of high-risk roads.”

Road crashes impose a staggering economic burden in Nigeria. According to iRAP’s Safety Insights Explorer, achieving UN Target 4 stands to save 12,429 lives each year in Nigeria, and an estimated 4 million fatalities and injuries over the 20 year life of road treatments, with an economic benefit to the country of US$6.6 billion – a benefit of $22 for every $1 spent.

For more information and to explore the data behind the business case for safer roads in Nigeria and around the world, visit iRAP’s Safety Insights Explorer.