Leaders of the Global Youth Coalition for Road Safety (YOURS) in Nigeria have met with the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr. Shehu Mohammed, to advocate for the inclusion of road safety in Nigeria’s National Youth Policy.
Speaking during a courtesy visit to the Corps Marshal at the FRSC headquarters in Abuja, Olufunke Elizabeth Afesojaye, a member of the YOURS leadership board, said the group presented its drafted Nigeria Policy Brief on youth and road safety and explored opportunities for collaboration with the road safety agency.
The engagement follows a commitment by the Minister of Youth Development to integrate road safety into Nigeria’s National Youth Policy, in line with the Decade of Action for Road Safety.
The commitment also aligns with the Global Youth Statement on Road Safety, led by YOURS.
During the meeting, the YOURS team presented the drafted Policy Brief and discussed a framework for collaboration with the FRSC to support the implementation of its recommendations.
Afesojaye said the policy brief was developed to address a critical gap in Nigeria’s youth policy framework.
‘This policy brief was developed to fill a critical gap. Right now, road safety is not captured in the Nigerian National Youth Policy. We believe the Federal Road Safety Corps has the technical expertise to support its implementation. To ensure this is achieved, we need collaborative effort,’ she said.
In response, the Corps Marshal reiterated the FRSC’s commitment to working with the Federal Ministry of Youth Development to ensure that road safety concerns affecting young people are reflected in the Nigerian National Youth Policy.
He also welcomed the partnership with YOURS and highlighted ongoing and upcoming FRSC programmes and initiatives aimed at improving road safety and reducing road-related risks across the country.
Afesojaye said the meeting provided a strategic opportunity for the YOURS team to present and discuss the policy brief in greater detail while exploring practical opportunities for collaboration with the FRSC to support the implementation of its recommendations.
The engagement marks an important step toward strengthening youth participation in road safety advocacy and ensuring that young people’s voices are reflected in Nigeria’s road safety policies.
‘We look forward to continued collaboration with the FRSC and other relevant stakeholders to advance youth-centred road safety policies and contribute to safer roads for young people across Nigeria,’ Afesojaye said.