By Joy Odor Reportcircle News
Nigeria’s highways are under intensified surveillance this Valentine season as the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) activates a nationwide enforcement surge targeting drunk drivers and speed violators.
Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed on Friday announced the full deployment of operational and educational assets across the country, warning that the Corps will show zero tolerance for reckless driving during the celebration.
The directive, issued from the FRSC headquarters in Abuja, orders commanding officers nationwide to scale up patrol visibility, tighten traffic control, and enforce compliance with road safety regulations without compromise.
In what officials describe as a proactive deterrence strategy, field operatives have been equipped with breathalysers and radar guns to identify intoxicated motorists and habitual speed offenders.
Mohammed directed officers to subject suspected drunk drivers to on-the-spot testing and prevent any impaired motorist from continuing their journey, a move aimed at cutting avoidable fatalities and property damage.
The message is blunt: celebration must not translate into carnage.
While acknowledging Valentine’s Day as a global celebration of love inspired by Saint Valentine, the Corps Marshal stressed that responsible conduct must define the festivities.
“Motorists who wish to celebrate must be exemplary by complying with all road traffic regulations,” he warned, adding that offenders would face strict penalties under existing traffic laws.
Historically, festive periods in Nigeria record spikes in road crashes driven by over-speeding, alcohol consumption, and late-night travel.
The FRSC’s pre-emptive mobilisation reflects growing concern over youth vulnerability during holiday seasons.
Beyond enforcement, the Corps is urging motorists to utilise its 122 toll-free emergency line to report crashes, road obstructions, or reckless driving for immediate intervention.
The Corps Marshal also appealed to parents and guardians to caution young drivers, noting that youths remain statistically more exposed to crash risks during celebratory outings.
Safety as Shared Responsibility
FRSC officials insist the heightened deployment is not punitive but preventive, designed to safeguard lives at a time when traffic volumes are expected to rise sharply across urban corridors and inter-state routes.
With officers stationed for enhanced visibility nationwide, the agency says cooperation from motorists will determine whether Valentine’s Day ends in celebration or tragedy.
For the FRSC, the objective is clear: keep romance on the streets symbolic and keep Nigeria’s highways free of heartbreak.
