The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has strongly rejected the controversial proposal currently before the National Assembly that seeks to empower operatives of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) with firearms. The student body, in a strongly worded statement released in Abuja on Friday by its Vice President for Inter-Campus and Gender Affairs, Sileola Akinbodunse, described the move as a “reckless misstep” that would endanger commuters rather than improve safety on Nigerian highways.
According to NANS, the idea of arming road safety officers is not only illogical but also contrary to the very purpose for which the FRSC was established in 1988. The corps, set up primarily to reduce road crashes and enforce traffic regulations, has struggled for years to meet its core mandate. Instead of addressing lapses in operations, the proposed bill, NANS argues, threatens to worsen the insecurity challenges already plaguing Nigerian roads.
Citing official statistics, Akinbodunse pointed out that the first quarter of 2025 alone recorded 2,650 road accidents, claiming 1,593 lives. This figure represented an 8.3 percent increase compared to the same period in 2024, further underscoring the systemic failures in road safety enforcement and infrastructure management. He argued that these failures were the result of inefficiency, inadequate training, and poor service delivery within the FRSC—challenges that firearms would not resolve.
For NANS, the notion that armed FRSC officials could somehow curb road accidents or improve safety is misguided. Instead, the group warned that such a move would likely escalate tensions on the highways, where commuters already face harassment and extortion from multiple security agencies. “Nigeria is dealing with unprecedented levels of insecurity, ranging from armed robbery to kidnappings on highways. Adding guns to the FRSC would only multiply the dangers faced by innocent motorists and passengers,” the statement read.
The association also highlighted operational lapses that have long plagued the FRSC, citing delays in issuing driver’s licences, allegations of bribery, and widespread inefficiencies. Akinbodunse specifically mentioned that in Abia State alone, more than 40,000 driver’s licence applications remain pending, a situation he described as “evidence of an agency overwhelmed by basic administrative duties.” According to him, it defies logic and global best practices to arm such an agency when it is still unable to carry out fundamental tasks effectively.
Another issue raised by NANS is the low remuneration and poor working conditions of FRSC officials. The student body argued that arming poorly paid and inadequately trained officers, who have been accused repeatedly of extorting motorists, could easily lead to abuse of firearms and unnecessary loss of lives. Instead of guns, NANS insists that what the corps urgently needs are reforms that prioritize capacity-building, digital technology, and improved logistics.
The association urged lawmakers to withdraw the bill without delay and redirect energy and resources toward reforms that will genuinely improve road safety outcomes. According to NANS, investment in modern traffic management technology, highway patrol logistics, body cameras for enforcement officers, and stricter anti-corruption measures would go much further in reducing road accidents than arming FRSC officials.
In its statement, NANS reminded policymakers that international best practice does not support arming traffic safety officers. In most developed countries, road safety agencies focus strictly on traffic regulation, rescue services, and accident prevention, leaving armed security responsibilities to the police or military. Nigeria, the association warned, should not create a hybrid system that would blur institutional responsibilities and put road users in harm’s way.
The association also expressed concern about the potential misuse of firearms if the bill is passed. With cases of trigger-happy security agents already on record in Nigeria, NANS fears that arming FRSC operatives could lead to avoidable clashes with civilians, especially in situations of minor infractions such as seat belt violations, expired documents, or routine traffic checks. The likelihood of abuse, the students warned, is far greater than any perceived benefit.
In closing, NANS emphasized that the real solution lies in tackling the root causes of accidents, which include bad roads, poorly maintained vehicles, reckless driving, weak enforcement of traffic laws, and corruption within regulatory bodies. Until those issues are properly addressed, Nigeria will continue to witness alarming numbers of road crashes and deaths regardless of whether FRSC officials are armed.
The student body called on civil society organizations, professional bodies, and the general public to join in rejecting the proposed bill. According to them, lawmakers should listen to the voice of reason and ensure that the FRSC is strengthened through reforms, not militarization. For NANS, the safety of commuters is too important to be gambled away through what it described as “a reckless legislative experiment.”
