ROAD AND VEHICLE SAFETY IN NIGERIA: WHICH SHOULD COME FIRST?

Picture Credit: Oriental Times 

When traveling across Nigeria’s major highways, one cannot help but notice government officials stopping vehicles to check their roadworthiness. Yet, a pressing question arises: which should be prioritized—safe roads or safe vehicles? Sadly, both remain in deplorable condition.

Vehicle Safety

Ideally, vehicles should be in proper working condition before being allowed on the road, whether for private or commercial use. Unfortunately, this is rarely the case. Many passengers have been stranded because vehicles lacked spare tyres, or carried ones that were unusable. Road Safety Officers and Vehicle Inspection Officers, tasked with enforcing these standards, often neglect their duty—choosing instead to collect bribes and allow unsafe vehicles to continue operating.  

Equally troubling is the issue of missing or fake vehicle documents. Officials routinely stop cars to check particulars, yet passengers frequently witness them accepting bribes from drivers without proper papers. This not only robs the government of revenue but also tarnishes the image of public officers.  

Basic safety features such as side mirrors, brake lights, tail lights, and windscreen wipers are often non-functional. Rather than impounding such vehicles or penalizing drivers, inspectors accept kickbacks, endangering lives and undermining the very purpose of their role. This reprehensible practice must end.

 Road Safety

For decades, road construction and maintenance in Nigeria have been inadequate. Successive governments promise improvements, but projects are often abandoned midway. Where roads are completed, poor workmanship and substandard materials mean they deteriorate quickly. Without timely repairs, conditions worsen, leaving motorists to suffer.  

In some cities, roads are hastily patched during election campaigns as politicians seek votes. These quick fixes rarely last, and the roads soon return to an even worse state.  

Ironically, Road Safety and Vehicle Inspection Officers often station themselves at the worst sections of these roads to conduct checks. One wonders if they benefit from the poor conditions, since bad spots make it easier to stop vehicles. This practice is both regrettable and unprofessional, falling short of modern standards of road safety enforcement.

Enforcement Practices 

When vehicles are found to be in violation, proper booking and charging procedures are rarely followed. Instead, drivers are forced to pay bribes on the spot and are then released with a warning to “go and sin no more.” Such corruption undermines accountability and perpetuates unsafe practices.

 Conclusion

This critique is not intended to malign the Road Safety Corps or Vehicle Inspection agencies, but to highlight the misconduct of many officials and the urgent need for reform.  

From the analysis, it is clear that road safety must take precedence. Poor roads impose hardship on countless Nigerians who are not at fault. Once roads are properly constructed and maintained, enforcement officers can more effectively carry out their duties, ensuring vehicles are roadworthy and punishing offenders appropriately.  

Safe roads create the foundation for safe vehicles—and only then can Nigeria move toward a truly reliable transport system