By Theodore Opara

The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Shehu Mohammed, has expressed strong support for President Bola Tinubu’s Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas, CNG and Electric Vehicles, EVs, describing it as a transformative programme that will boost investment, create jobs and accelerate Nigeria’s transition to sustainable transportation.

Speaking during an interview at the 2026 Nigeria Auto Industry Summit, NAISU, organised by the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association, NAJA, Mohammed said the initiative aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those promoting climate action and sustainable transport systems.

He commended President Tinubu for driving the programme and for giving the FRSC a role in its implementation.

“This initiative has brought in so many investments. We have assembly plants producing electric vehicles and CNG vehicles, companies manufacturing CNG cylinders and conversion kits, and new technology that is creating opportunities for our youths,” he said.

According to the Corps Marshal, the initiative is expected to generate significant employment opportunities while positioning Nigeria as a major player in green transportation.

“Really, it is a massive investment coming into Nigeria, and it is producing massive jobs for the unemployment challenge we have,” he added.

Mohammed also linked the administration’s transport reforms to broader infrastructure development, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway, which he said would contribute to achieving a safer and more efficient transport system.

He said the government was moving towards meeting the UN target of providing “a safe, accessible, affordable, reliable and sustainable transport system for all Nigerians by 2030.”

On road safety, the FRSC boss stressed that reducing crashes and fatalities should not be left to the agency alone, insisting that road safety is a collective responsibility involving government, communities and citizens.

“Road Safety Agenda and Road Safety Principle should not be left to the FRSC alone. It should be a collective responsibility for all Nigerians,” he said.

Mohammed acknowledged that while the FRSC has carried out public enlightenment campaigns for more than three decades, greater involvement from state governments, local authorities, traditional rulers and community leaders is needed.

He said the corps had shifted part of its awareness strategy from motor parks to grassroots town hall engagements in order to reach drivers, passengers and community stakeholders directly.

“When you see a bad driving culture, stop the person, tell him. Let him be embarrassed. It is a shared responsibility,” he stated.

The Corps Marshal expressed concern over dangerous driving practices, including speeding, overloading and the mixing of passengers, goods and animals in the same vehicle, which he said contributes significantly to road crashes.

He also appealed to passengers to speak up when drivers engage in reckless behaviour, particularly overspeeding.

Mohammed praised NAJA and the media for supporting the FRSC’s road safety campaigns and called for stronger collaboration with journalists to achieve the goal of reducing road traffic crashes, fatalities and injuries by half before 2030.

On his legacy, the Corps Marshal said his focus remains on consistency, technology-driven operations, personnel development and institutional collaboration.

“The legacy I want to leave is partnership, collaboration and bringing out the best of FRSC staff to serve Nigerians and project the image of the corps,” he said.