Road Crashes Claim 1,374 Lives In 3 Months – NBS

Road traffic crashes in Nigeria surged in the fourth quarter of 2025, claiming 1,374 lives and injuring 8,726 people amid a 12.2 per cent rise in incidents to 2,731 nationwide, according to data released on Wednesday by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

The statistics office said the figure represents a 12.20 per cent rise compared with the 2,434 crashes recorded in the third quarter of 2025.

It also showed a 6.72 per cent increase relative to the 2,559 crashes reported in the corresponding period of 2024.

A breakdown of the crashes by severity shows that serious crashes accounted for the largest share of incidents during the quarter, with 1,775 cases.

The NBS report did not pinpoint causes, but experts cite speeding (40 per cent of cases), reckless overtaking, and pothole-riddled roads as perennial culprits.

The fourth quarter rise aligns with year-end travel rushes, poor vehicle maintenance, and fatigue among long-haul drivers.

Nigeria recorded 10,446 road crashes and 5,289 deaths in 2025, according to Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) data released in early 2026.

In 2024, the figures were 9,570 crashes and 5,421 deaths.

This quarter’s 1,374 deaths push Nigeria’s 2025 road toll toward 5,000—eclipsing 2024’s full-year 4,200 fatalities.

Globally, the World Health Organisation ranks Nigeria among the deadliest for road deaths, with 22.4 per 100,000 people affected annually.

According to the report, fatal crashes followed with 677 cases, while minor crashes accounted for the least number with 279 cases.

The data further revealed a gender disparity in road crash fatalities during the period.A total of 1,085 males lost their lives, representing 78.97 per cent of total fatalities. In comparison, 289 females were killed, accounting for 21.03 per cent.

Similarly, males accounted for the majority of persons injured in road crashes.According to the report, 6,561 males sustained injuries, representing 75.19 per cent of the total number of injured persons. By contrast, 2,165 females were injured, accounting for 24.81 per cent.

The number of vehicles involved in road traffic accidents also increased during the period, with 4,059 vehicles recorded—a 9.41 per cent rise from 3,710 in the third quarter.

Zonal Breakdown Highlights Disparities

The NBS also provided a zonal analysis of road traffic crashes.

The South-West zone recorded the highest number of crashes with 763 cases.

The North-Central zone followed with 744 cases. By contrast, the South-South zone recorded the lowest with 152 cases.

In terms of casualties (deaths plus injuries), North-Central led with 2,649, followed by North-West with 2,497.  South-South had the least at 420.

The latest figures highlight persistent road safety challenges in Nigeria despite ongoing efforts by authorities.