FRSC urges safe driving, clears 6,000 unclaimed licences

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has called on motorists in Akwa Ibom State to prioritise safety and responsibility while driving during the ember months to curb road crashes and save lives.

Speaking during the 2025 Ember Months Sensitisation Campaign in Uyo on Friday, the State Sector Commander, Mr Francis Ajatta, revealed that the Corps currently has over 6,000 unclaimed driver’s licences in its custody.

He disclosed that about 1,000 of them have expired, as their owners have failed to collect them despite several reminders.

Ajatta urged applicants who had completed their documentation to visit FRSC offices across the state to pick up their licences, assuring that the Corps was working to eliminate delays and backlogs in licence production.

“Our printing facility has been upgraded to produce an average of 15,000 driver’s licences daily. This will help us clear the backlog and stop further delays,” he stated.

The sector commander also reminded drivers of the campaign’s theme, “Take Responsibility for Your Safety: Stop Distracted Driving,” which underscores that most road crashes are caused by human error.

He warned motorists against speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, using mobile phones while driving, and other unsafe practices that lead to avoidable accidents.

“Road crashes will become a thing of the past if we all obey traffic rules and regulations,” Ajatta said, while commending the Akwa Ibom State Government for providing quality road infrastructure that enhances safety.

In his remarks, Mr Otu Umoessen, Deputy State Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), cautioned drivers against substance abuse, noting that drugs and alcohol impair judgment and lead to reckless driving.

Also speaking, Chief Ezekiel Japhath, Village Head of Nnung Ukot Itam in Itu Local Government Area, urged drivers to see the ember months as a festive period, not a dangerous one. He advised motorists to obey traffic signs and remember their loved ones while driving.

The Chairman of the Foodstuffs Traders Association in Akwa Ibom, Mr. Etim Inyang, appealed to FRSC to audit all bad federal roads in the state and present a report to the Federal Government for prompt repairs, noting that poor road conditions contribute to accidents.

The annual FRSC ember months campaign aims to raise public awareness on safe driving and reduce the rate of road crashes during the year-end festive period.