By Myke Uzendu, Abuja
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has commenced the restriction of articulated vehicles and heavy-duty trucks during peak hours along the ever busy Aya – Kugbo – Nyanya corridor in the Federal Capital Territory as part of efforts to reduce road crashes and ease traffic congestion.
The AYA–Nyanya–Kugbo corridor in Abuja has in recent months recorded a troubling rise in road traffic crashes, particularly involving articulated trucks, leading to multiple fatalities and injuries. Several of the incidents, often linked to brake failure, over-speeding, and loss of control by heavy-duty vehicles, have claimed dozens of lives while leaving many others with severe injuries.
Eyewitness accounts and traffic reports indicate that these crashes frequently occur during peak hours, worsening congestion and delaying emergency response. The growing casualty figures and repeated nature of the accidents have heightened public concern and prompted urgent calls for stricter traffic enforcement and better regulation of truck movements along the busy corridor.
The initiative, tagged ‘Operation Safe Kugbo’, is a strategic enforcement drive targeted at improving traffic flow and addressing the persistent cases of road traffic crashes (RTCs) along the AYA–Nyanya–Kugbo axis in Abuja.
FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday by the Acting Corps Public Education Officer, Mrs Felicia Kalu.
According to him, the operation followed the deployment of a high-level tactical team set up to assess the recurring crashes involving articulated vehicles along the corridor.
“The ongoing enforcement drive is a direct outcome of that intervention, reflecting the Corps’ commitment to translating strategic assessments into impactful actions,” Mohammed said.
He explained that the exercise, being implemented at the sector level by the Sector Commander, Corps Commander Felix Theman, is in line with the National Road Traffic Regulations and the FCT Traffic Regulations, as well as the Corps’ 2026 strategic goals aimed at creating safer road environments.
“The operation focuses on restricting the movement of articulated vehicles and heavy-duty trucks during peak traffic hours to mitigate congestion and associated risks,” he added.
Providing details of the first day of enforcement, the Corps Marshal said the Nyanya Unit Commander led a combined team comprising personnel from the FCT Command and Nyanya Unit Command.
“The team, made up of eight officers and 22 marshals, supported by three patrol vehicles and five motorbikes, successfully restricted a total of 89 articulated vehicles from operating during designated peak periods,” he said.
He noted that the exercise was conducted seamlessly, with full compliance from motorists and transport operators.
Mohammed commended drivers and stakeholders for their cooperation, noting that their adherence contributed to the success of the operation.
He reiterated the Corps’ commitment to adopting data-driven and people-centred strategies to safeguard lives and property on Nigerian roads.
The FRSC boss also urged road users, particularly operators of heavy-duty vehicles, to comply with traffic regulations, stressing that sustained enforcement under Operation Safe Kugbo would remain critical to ensuring safer and more efficient movement within the nation’s capital.
