Rampant substance-abuse behind the wheel sparks alarm amid surge in traffic accidents in Lagos

–Safety interventions introduced by state government
–Nigeria records 21.4 deaths per 100,000 people — WHO Report

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

There is a spike in the number of accidents on some roads in Lagos caused largely due to substance abuse by drivers of mostly commercial vehicles. This report takes a critical look at stakeholders’ concerns, the causes, and possible solutions to the rising and largely avoidable daily occurrences.

The increasing number of road crashes and rising fatalities in Lagos State has raised serious questions about the effectiveness of existing safety measures and the traffic management system in the state. Recent official statistics reveal the stark reality of the frequency and severity of road accidents, reportedly linked to various factors, but majorly substance abuse.

Worried by the development, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, through his Senior Special Assistant on Transport and Logistics, Comrade Hassan Adekoya, recently launched a free health and safety intervention aimed at curbing road carnage.

Rising number of crashes and fatalities
Motorists and key stakeholders in Lagos are raising the alarm over the increase in road traffic crashes, with federal data confirming a surge in incidents and injuries between late 2025 and early 2026.
The World Health Organisation, WHO, has also raised concerns over Nigeria’s alarming rate of road crash fatalities, ranking the country among the worst in Africa.
According to the WHO’s Global Status Report on Road Safety 2023, Nigeria records 21.4 deaths per 100,000 people, a figure higher than both the global and African averages.
Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, founder of Kwapda’s Road Safety Demand (KRSD), highlighted the report during a media briefing in Abuja, describing the situation as troubling and calling for urgent intervention.

“Nigeria has been ranked among the countries with the highest road traffic deaths in Africa, with 21.4 deaths per 100,000 people, according to the World Health Organization’s Global Status Report on Road Safety. The figure is significantly higher than both the global and African averages,” she said.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) reported that nationwide road accidents increased by 9.2 per cent in 2025, with specific high-risk areas in Lagos, such as the Otedola and Kara bridges, remaining major flashpoints for accidents.

Key concerns and data points (2025–2026)
Rising casualties
While fatalities saw a slight decrease of 2.4 per cent in 2025, total road crashes rose to 10,446, with injuries increasing by 7.2 per cent. These figures represent thousands of families devastated every year.

Lagos-specific data
The FRSC Lagos Sector Command recorded 91 deaths within 11 months (January–November 2025), with October recording the highest number of fatalities.

Festive period spike
Between December 15, 2025, and January 15, 2026, crashes rose by 3.4 per cent, while fatalities increased by 4.2 per cent compared with the previous year.

Primary causes
Speeding accounts for 41 per cent of identified causes, followed by reckless driving often linked to substance abuse, dangerous overtaking, and poor vehicle maintenance.

LASEMA emergency data
A breakdown of emergency statistics released by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) revealed that no fewer than 173 people died in 1,156 emergencies recorded across the state in 2025.
The agency said it remains fully prepared to tackle emergencies across the state in the new year.
Analysis of the report showed that 394 road crash incidents were recorded during the year, followed by 249 tanker and truck-related incidents. The data also highlighted 204 fire outbreaks.
In terms of monthly distribution, February 2025 recorded the highest number of emergencies with 122 cases, followed by April with 121 cases and May with 119 incidents.

The report also indicated that Alimosho Local Government Area recorded the highest number of emergencies with 180 cases, followed by Eti-Osa with 144 cases and Ikeja with 139 cases.
Between January 1 and December 30, 2025, data from LASEMA’s Pre-Hospital Care Unit showed that 1,924 victims were rescued and resuscitated during the period.

LASTMA raises alarm
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has also expressed concern over the increasing number of speed-induced crashes on major routes across the state.

The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, reacting to a lone-vehicle crash last month at the Lekki Toll Gate inward Sandfield corridor involving a Mazda commercial bus, said the accident—caused by overspeeding—left five passengers seriously injured.

He said “Findings indicate that the driver of the commercial bus, while speeding, experienced a sudden mechanical brake failure. This catastrophic malfunction caused the vehicle to lose directional control and violently collide with the toll gate median infrastructure, resulting in severe bodily harm to all occupants, including the driver.

“Road users should cooperate fully with traffic regulatory authorities in the collective quest to entrench safer, more orderly and accident-free roads across Lagos State.”

Recent road carnage
Several accidents have been recorded in recent weeks, with many road users blaming faulty traffic signals and reckless driving for the recurring crashes. Residents are therefore calling on the Lagos State Government and relevant authorities to urgently address the situation.

One recent accident involving a commercial, 18-seater passenger bus, occurred on penultimate Tuesday near Limca Bus Stop along the Lagos–Badagry Expressway, again raising concerns about safety on the busy corridor. The incident caused panic among commuters as emergency responders focused on rescuing passengers and clearing the affected section of the road.

An eyewitness, Oluwatosin Bamgbose, said a young boy was rushed to a nearby hospital for urgent medical attention.

Several road users and residents attributed recurring accidents in the area to speeding, reckless driving linked to drug abuse, and poor vehicle conditions.

Some recent incidents include: February 18: A four-year-old boy, his mother, and 12 others survived a lone accident along the newly constructed Lagos/Calabar Coastal Road opposite Lafiaji inward Okun-Ajah, involving a fully loaded Mazda commercial bus. On February 19, two persons died in a midnight collision at Cele Bus Stop inward Mile-2 on the Oshodi–Apapa Expressway involving two trucks. Authorities attributed the crash to drunk driving. Earlier, on February 17, two passengers sustained severe injuries in a collision between a Toyota Highlander Jeep (AKD 956 JY) and a black Toyota Corolla (APP 884 JJ) along the same axis.
These incidents are among several crashes recorded in recent times.

Calls for action
Residents and stakeholders identified the high number of commercial vehicles operating recklessly on routes such as the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and Third Mainland Bridge as a major contributor to accidents. They called for stricter enforcement by FRSC and LASTMA, particularly against drunk driving, overloading, and phone use while driving. They also cited poor road conditions and inadequate lighting on bridges as contributing factors. Stakeholders further emphasized the need for behavioural change, noting that many drivers operate without proper training or certification.

FRSC’s response
In response to the rising trend, the FRSC announced stricter directives for 2026, including: Intelligence-led enforcement targeting high-risk crash corridors

• Zero tolerance for the “Big Five” offences: speeding, dangerous driving, drunk driving, wrong-way driving, and overloading
• Strict enforcement of speed limiters in commercial vehicles.
  As of early 2026, both FRSC and LASTMA reaffirmed their commitment to reversing the trend through stronger enforcement and community outreach.
  However, the corps noted that road crashes fell short of its 10 per cent fatality reduction target.

Lagos government’s interventions
One of the early measures taken by the Lagos State Government was the installation of speed limit devices on the Third Mainland Bridge and other strategic roads.
Stakeholders agree that until government agencies, drivers, vehicle owners, and road users all take responsibility, road carnage will persist.
From February 9 to 12, 2026, the state government also launched a comprehensive health and safety programme for professional drivers operating in the state.
According to Hassan Adekoya, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Transport and Logistics, the initiative aims to address occupational health and safety challenges faced by drivers, particularly truck drivers who play a vital role in the state’s logistics ecosystem.
No fewer than 10,000 commercial drivers benefited from the programme, which was held at four locations: Lilypond Bonded Terminal (Apapa), Iyana-Iba, Obalende, and Lekki Free Trade Zone Parks.
The programme provided Free eye screenings, Medical consultation, Corrective lenses, and Substance abuse awareness and screening.
The Chairman of the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Lagos Chapter, Alhaji Kayode Ogunowo, advised drivers to avoid habits that could endanger their lives and those of other road users.
During screenings conducted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), several drivers found to be addicted to hard substances were referred for rehabilitation. Officials described the number detected as “alarming.”