DrSuberu YusufJohn
By Friday Idachaba
The Kogi State Government has unveiled a renewed offensive against road traffic crashes, with the Special Adviser to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo on Road Safety Matters, Dr Suberu Yusuf John, promising tougher interventions, wider public enlightenment and stronger partnerships to save lives across the state.
John, who spoke with journalists in Lokoja while marking his first year in office, said his office would build on the interventions recorded in the past year and intensify efforts to reduce preventable deaths on Kogi roads.
He identified sustained public education, rapid emergency response, stakeholder collaboration and innovative road safety programmes as key pillars of the renewed campaign.
The Special Adviser expressed appreciation to Governor Ododo for his confidence in him, saying his elevation from Senior Special Assistant to Special Adviser on Road Safety Matters reflected the administration’s commitment to tackling road crashes and protecting motorists, passengers and pedestrians.
According to him, the progress recorded over the past year was driven by proactive leadership and close collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other stakeholders.
John disclosed that between 2025 and July 2026, he participated actively in emergency rescue operations at crash scenes alongside FRSC personnel, while also leading aggressive road safety sensitisation campaigns across the state.
The campaigns were taken to schools, churches, mosques, motor parks and communities in an effort to reach road users directly and drive home the message that many crashes can be prevented through responsible behaviour.
“Public enlightenment has remained one of our major priorities because every life matters.
“We took road safety campaigns to churches, mosques, schools, motor parks and communities to ensure people understand that most road crashes are preventable,” he said.
He urged motorists, commercial drivers, motorcyclists and other road users to respect traffic regulations, warning that reckless driving and disregard for safety rules could have devastating consequences.
The Special Adviser also disclosed that his office convened a high-level stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House, Lokoja, to address concerns arising from the ongoing Federal road construction project in Zariagi Community.
He said the intervention was aimed at promoting peaceful coexistence between the host community and CGC Nigeria Limited and preventing disputes surrounding the project from escalating.
John said the initiative demonstrated the importance of dialogue and early intervention in resolving issues capable of affecting major infrastructure projects and public safety.
He also highlighted the 2026 Strategic Stakeholders’ Conference on Road Safety, which brought together government agencies, transport unions, development partners and civil society organisations to strengthen the state’s collective response to road crashes.
The conference resolved to deepen institutional partnerships, intensify public awareness and improve compliance with traffic laws.
A major highlight of the event was the investiture of Governor Ododo as Patron of the FRSC Special Marshals.
The state also donated 10 electric motorcycles to the FRSC to strengthen its operational capacity and improve its ability to respond to road safety challenges.
Outstanding contributors to road safety were also recognised with awards at the event.
John described the visit of the FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, to Kogi State as a significant endorsement of the Ododo administration’s commitment to road safety.
He said the visit had further energised stakeholders and reinforced the need for sustained action to curb road crashes across the state.
The Special Adviser said the support of Governor Ododo, his elevation to the position of Special Adviser and stronger collaboration with relevant agencies had given his office greater impetus to pursue more ambitious road safety interventions.
He pledged to expand strategic partnerships, strengthen advocacy and introduce innovative programmes capable of reducing road traffic crashes and safeguarding lives.
John stressed that the administration’s road safety campaign would remain relentless, insisting that every preventable crash represents a life that must be protected.
He called on motorists and other road users to make safety a personal responsibility, stressing that government interventions could only succeed when road users themselves embrace responsible driving and strict compliance with traffic regulations.
“Every life matters,” he said, reaffirming his determination to work with all relevant stakeholders to build a safer and more responsive road transport system in Kogi State.