ABUJA, NIGERIA
In a sweeping measure to curb road carnage during the peak festive season, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has declared a strict zero-tolerance policy against “mixed loading” and distracted driving, while simultaneously directing construction companies to clear obstructions on major highways.
These directives are the cornerstone of the “Operation Zero Exercise,” a high-impact, intelligence-driven nationwide operation that commenced on December 15, 2025, and is scheduled to run through January 15, 2026.
According to a press statement signed by the Corps Public Education Officer, Assistant Corps Marshal Olusegun Ogungbemide, the operation aims to deliver round-the-clock patrols, rapid emergency response, and aggressive enforcement of traffic laws. All FRSC formations have been mandated to prioritize critical corridors, gridlock points, and major inter-state routes to ensure sustained visibility as a deterrent to violations.
The Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, has issued specific warnings regarding dangerous driving habits. He declared that vehicles found conveying passengers alongside goods or animals, a practice known as mixed loading, and drivers caught using phones or engaging in other distractions will be decisively sanctioned under the exercise.
Furthermore, the Corps Marshal has implored construction and road maintenance companies currently operating on major highways to open up carriageways and clear avoidable bottlenecks. He stressed that effective traffic control around work zones is essential to alleviating hardship for the motoring public during this busy period.
To ensure the success of the operation, Commanding Officers have been charged to “lead from the front,” enforcing strict discipline and guaranteeing the optimal utilization of patrol vehicles, ambulances, and speed-limiting devices. The Corps Marshal warned that professionalism must define every engagement with road users and that any dereliction of duty or compromise by officers will attract severe sanctions.
Beyond enforcement, the FRSC is intensifying public enlightenment campaigns at motor parks and religious centers, reminding motorists that speeding, drunk driving, and dangerous overtaking remain the leading causes of fatal crashes. The Corps Marshal also called for enhanced collaboration with sister security agencies and transport unions to ensure a festive season free from avoidable tragedies.
“The success of Operation Zero will be judged by measurable outcomes: reduced road traffic crashes, fewer injuries and fatalities, improved travel time, and increased public confidence in road safety management,” the statement read.
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