At the Excellence Hotel in Ogba, Lagos, the hall was filled with transport workers, fleet operators, safety officials, and private sector partners, each one aware that the road ahead, literally and figuratively, was about to get busier.
It was the 2025 Ember Months Public Enlightenment and Sensitization Town Hall Meeting, and the message from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) was unmistakable: distracted driving is silently causing too many crashes on Lagos roads.
Lagos Sector Commander, Kehinde Ganiyu Hamzat, delivered the warning with urgency.
“Distracted driving is one of the most dangerous yet overlooked causes of road traffic crashes,” he said.
The Numbers Behind a Growing Threat
According to Hamzat, more than 15% of all crashes recorded in Lagos in 2024 were linked to distraction—whether from phone use, eating while driving, adjusting vehicle controls, or deep conversations behind the wheel.
But mobile phones remain the biggest culprit.
“This continues despite existing laws and continuous sensitization,” he added.
The Commander also addressed a long-held myth: that Ember Months—September through December—bring supernatural dangers to roads.
“The truth is more practical,” he said. “Human activities rise sharply, travel increases, and safety awareness drops.”
A Season of Responsibility
Hamzat called the event a “call to action” for everyone who uses the road—drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and enforcement agencies.
“Road safety is a shared responsibility,” he said. “It begins with the attitude of the person behind the wheel.”
With more than five million vehicle movements daily, Lagos remains one of Africa’s most congested cities. Hamzat noted that cooperation with agencies like LASTMA and VIS has helped reduce crashes and improve emergency response, but he stressed that the ultimate goal remains zero crash, zero fatality.
“Every life lost is one too many,” he said.
Guinness Nigeria Brings 20 Years of Support
For Guinness Nigeria, the Ember Months campaign is familiar territory.
Corporate Relations Director, Rotimi Odusola, reminded the audience that the company has partnered with the FRSC for more than two decades.
“We always preach one clear message: don’t drink and drive,” he said.
He urged drivers to avoid all forms of distraction and to take responsibility for every action on the road.
FRSC Warns Against Emotional, Reckless Driving
Assistant Corps Marshal Oluwakemi Oladayo, represented by Corps Commander Anthony Dauda, captured the chaos of the Ember Months, parties, celebrations, project launches, and family gatherings.
“All these create confusion and frenzy on the roads,” he said.
Dauda cautioned drivers against emotional driving:
“If you hear bad news, calm down before you take the wheel. Take responsibility for your safety.”
He further recommended a top speed of 80 km/h, describing it as the safest speed for handling unexpected emergencies during the festive season.
Police on Alert for Holiday Traffic Surge
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, represented by DCP Dayo Akinbiseyin, noted that the Ember Months also mean an increase in returning Nigerians from the diaspora.
He assured that the police will continue collaborating with the FRSC to keep Lagos roads and communities safe during the festive rush.
Children Deliver Safety Message with Heart
One of the most memorable moments of the event came from the students of Bosol Godswill Group of Schools.
Their powerful recitations on road safety held guests spellbound, while their musical performance, complete with saxophone and trumpet, brought warmth and excitement to the hall.
A Renewed Commitment to Safer Roads
As the event closed, one message stood out: preventing road crashes is a collective duty.
With the Ember Months now in full swing, the FRSC is urging Lagosians to drop their phones, stay alert, slow down, and remain calm, especially when emotions run high.
Because sometimes, avoiding a crash is as simple as paying attention.