LAGOS – In Nigeria, the majority of roads have become death traps. Every day, countless people are killed in accidents caused by reckless commercial drivers and law enforcement officers who have failed to protect the public. Instead of enforcing order, many of these officers have turned to extortion, creating a lawless environment in which traffic rules are ignored and lives are tragically cut short.
From Lagos to Abuja, Port Harcourt to Kano, the pattern is consistent: commercial drivers operate with impunity, while law enforcement officers prioritise bribes over public safety. The end result is always preventable deaths, bereaved families, and a transport system that thrives on disorder rather than order.
Nigeria has one of the highest rates of road fatalities in Africa, with more than 39,000 deaths recorded each year. This staggering figure is driven by a combination of reckless driving and lax enforcement of traffic laws.
Commercial drivers, particularly danfo (minibus), keke (tricycle), and okada (motorcycle) operators, have gained notoriety for their complete disregard for traffic laws.
Speeding, dangerous overtaking, running red lights, and driving against traffic (“one-way”) are all common occurrences. These drivers frequently blame their reckless behaviour on the desire to make quick money, but the truth is that they do so because there are few consequences.
“I have seen danfo drivers reverse onto the motorway just to pick up passengers,” says Bayo, a Lagos-based motorist. “They do not mind the risks because they know they can buy their way out of trouble.”
Across the country, many of these commercial drivers do not have valid licenses or vehicle documents, but they operate freely because traffic officers frequently turn a blind eye as long as they are paid their “share.”
Rather than enforcing traffic laws, some officers from the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and the Nigeria Police Force have turned their positions into money-making opportunities.
These officers stop motorists not for breaking the law, but for failing to pay bribes. This practice has resulted in tragic incidents in which drivers, in an attempt to avoid extortion, end up killing themselves and their passengers.
A recent case in Lagos demonstrates the deadly consequences of these extortion-driven chases. LASTMA officials reportedly pursued a Toyota Corolla driver who accidentally entered a BRT lane.
According to eyewitnesses, the officials demanded N100,000, but the driver only offered N70,000. When he refused to withdraw any more cash, he attempted to flee the scene, only to be killed by another vehicle fleeing from LASTMA officials.
This type of incident is not new. The recklessness of traffic officers has sparked several protests in Lagos, with residents demanding an end to aggressive enforcement tactics that prioritise money over human lives.
A similar tragedy occurred in Onitsha, Anambra State, in 2023, when FRSC officers pursued a commercial driver for having an expired vehicle licence. The high-speed pursuit ended when the driver lost control and collided with a crowd of pedestrians, killing three people on the spot.
Eyewitnesses claimed that if the officers had simply issued a ticket instead of pursuing the driver, the accident could have been avoided.
Chukwudi, a local transport worker, lamented, “These officers are not concerned about safety. They are more interested in collecting money. “If you do not pay, they will pursue you until something bad happens.”
On the Abuja-Kaduna highway, where kidnappings and insecurity are already prevalent, reckless law enforcement practices have resulted in fatalities.
There was a time when police officers chased a passenger bus for an alleged traffic violation. In a desperate attempt to flee, the driver accelerated but lost control, flipping the vehicle several times. Five passengers died, and others suffered serious injuries.
Eyewitnesses accused the officers of fleeing the scene immediately following the crash, abandoning the injured victims to their fate.
In Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the government’s ban on okadas has resulted in an increase in dangerous chases between traffic officers and motorcycle riders. These chases frequently result in fatal crashes, with many riders and passengers losing their lives.
In one heartbreaking case, a father and his son were killed when their motorbike was hit by a vehicle during a police chase with a group of okada riders. The child’s mother, speaking through tears, asked, “Is poverty a crime? “Why are they treating us like animals?”
One of the most serious issues fuelling this crisis is selective enforcement of traffic laws. While commercial drivers get away with serious violations, private car owners must face the full force of the law.
Many private car owners have complained about being pulled over multiple times during a single trip, being asked for unnecessary paperwork, and being forced to pay large fines. Meanwhile, commercial vehicles, many of which are not roadworthy, can operate freely because their drivers have mastered the art of bribery.
The double standard is glaring. It is common to see traffic officers riding in commercial buses, essentially giving them immunity from the laws they are meant to enforce. This deep-rooted corruption has eroded public trust and made it nearly impossible to maintain order on Nigerian roads.
The thousands of lives lost each year are not just numbers; they are people, mothers, fathers, children, and young professionals whose futures are stolen due to a failed system. The economic cost is also staggering. Families lose breadwinners, businesses lose employees, and hospitals are overwhelmed with accident victims.
A report by the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that Nigeria loses about 3% of its GDP annually due to road accidents. This loss includes medical expenses, loss of productivity, and the long-term impact on families.
If Nigeria is serious about stopping these needless deaths, it must take decisive action:
Traffic laws should apply equally to all road users. LASTMA, FRSC, and police officers must stop treating private car owners as easy targets while allowing commercial drivers to break the law freely.
Law enforcement officers should be trained to handle traffic violations responsibly. Chasing vehicles on busy roads must be banned to prevent unnecessary deaths.
There is need to install body cameras on officers, it will help curb extortion and ensure accountability in traffic law enforcement.
Commercial drivers who repeatedly violate traffic laws should face stricter penalties, including licence revocation and jail time.
Furthermore, an independent body should be established to investigate and punish officers who engage in bribery and reckless enforcement practices.
The roads in Nigeria have become a war zone, not just because of reckless commercial drivers, but also because of corrupt law enforcement officers who prioritise bribes over human lives.
From Lagos to Onitsha, Abuja to Port Harcourt, tragic incidents continue to unfold, leaving families in mourning and communities in despair.
Until the government takes decisive action to reform traffic enforcement and restore sanity to the roads, more lives will be lost.
The question is: how many more innocent Nigerians must die before real change happens?
