A growing number of road crashes in Lagos is raising fresh concern among motorists, safety officials and transport stakeholders, with substance abuse among commercial drivers emerging as a major factor.

Recent incidents across major highways and urban corridors have intensified calls for stricter enforcement of traffic regulations and stronger interventions to improve road safety in Nigeria’s busiest city.

Authorities say the increase in accidents, many involving commercial vehicles, reflects deeper issues tied to reckless driving, speeding and drug use behind the wheel.

Nigeria’s road fatality rate among highest in Africa

Global data also highlights the scale of the problem. The World Health Organization’s Global Status Report on Road Safety 2023 places Nigeria among African countries with the highest rate of road traffic deaths.

According to the report, the country records 21.4 road crash deaths per 100,000 people, a figure higher than both the global and African averages.

Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, founder of Kwapda’s Road Safety Demand, described the trend as troubling during a media briefing in Abuja and called for urgent action.

Federal Road Safety Corps statistics show road accidents across Nigeria rose by 9.2 percent in 2025. In Lagos, known accident flashpoints include Otedola Bridge and Kara Bridge.

Accident figures highlight rising casualties

While national fatalities declined slightly by 2.4 percent in 2025, the number of total crashes increased to 10,446. Injuries also rose by 7.2 percent during the same period.

In Lagos alone, the FRSC recorded 91 deaths between January and November 2025, with October reporting the highest number of fatalities.

Crashes also rose during the festive season between December 2025 and January 2026, increasing by 3.4 percent, while fatalities climbed by 4.2 percent compared with the previous year.

Safety officials say speeding remains the leading cause of accidents, accounting for about 41 percent of cases. Reckless driving linked to drug use, dangerous overtaking and poor vehicle maintenance also contribute significantly.

Emergency response data shows scale of incidents

Statistics from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency show that 173 people died in 1,156 emergencies recorded in the state in 2025.

Road crashes accounted for 394 of those incidents, followed by 249 tanker and truck accidents, while 204 cases involved fire outbreaks.

Alimosho Local Government Area recorded the highest number of emergencies with 180 cases. Eti-Osa and Ikeja followed with 144 and 139 incidents respectively.

Data from LASEMA’s Pre-Hospital Care Unit also shows that emergency teams rescued or treated 1,924 victims between January and December 2025.

Traffic authorities warn against speeding and reckless driving

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority has also expressed concern about speed-related crashes along major routes.

LASTMA General Manager Olalekan Bakare-Oki cited a recent crash near the Lekki Toll Gate involving a commercial Mazda bus that lost control after brake failure while speeding, leaving five passengers seriously injured.

Authorities say several other accidents have occurred in recent weeks across the city, including incidents along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway and Oshodi-Apapa corridor.

Residents blame recurring crashes on speeding, reckless driving linked to drug abuse and poorly maintained vehicles.

Government introduces safety and health programmes

In response, the Lagos State Government has introduced several safety initiatives aimed at reducing accidents.

Speed-limiting devices have been installed on the Third Mainland Bridge and other strategic roads to curb overspeeding.

Between Feb. 9 and Feb. 12, 2026, the state also conducted a large health and safety programme for professional drivers.

The initiative, led by the governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Transport and Logistics, Hassan Adekoya, provided medical consultations, eye screenings, corrective lenses and substance abuse checks.

More than 10,000 commercial drivers participated in the programme at locations including Apapa, Iyana-Iba, Obalende and the Lekki Free Trade Zone.

Drug screenings carried out by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency identified several drivers addicted to hard substances, with officials describing the number detected as alarming.

Transport unions and safety authorities say stronger enforcement, driver training and behavioural change are needed to curb the rising toll on Lagos roads.