The Sultan urged the volunteers to move beyond conventional awareness campaigns and embrace a more coordinated and results-oriented approach to road safety. He said collaboration among government agencies, transport unions, schools, private organisations, traditional institutions, religious leaders and community groups was essential to improving compliance with traffic regulations.
He described road crashes as a serious public concern because of their human and economic consequences, including fatalities, injuries and financial hardship for affected families. He maintained that reducing these incidents required collective action supported by reliable information.
The monarch also highlighted the contributions of Special Marshals to public education, community engagement, traffic management support and emergency response. However, he said volunteers needed regular training, appropriate safety equipment and clear operational guidance to carry out their responsibilities effectively.
According to him, accurate road safety data could help authorities identify accident-prone locations, recognise dangerous driving patterns and determine which road users face greater risks. He encouraged Special Marshals to submit reliable observations through approved FRSC reporting channels and make better use of digital reporting tools and GPS technology.
The Sultan further called for improved accountability, saying the performance of volunteers should be assessed by the quality and impact of their work rather than simply the number of campaigns conducted. He also advocated standardised reporting procedures, sustained public enlightenment and recognition for outstanding service.
FRSC Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed, represented at the conference by the RS-10 Zonal Commanding Officer, Assistant Corps Marshal Fredrick A. Ogidan, also emphasised the need for stronger partnerships and better use of data in road safety operations.
Mohammed said population growth, rising vehicle ownership, urban expansion and changing road-user behaviour had created challenges that required modern, technology-supported interventions. He stressed that the responsibility for preventing road crashes could not rest with the FRSC alone.
He urged Special Marshals to deepen cooperation with transport operators, educational institutions, professional associations, faith-based organisations and community leaders. Such partnerships, he said, could strengthen road safety education, emergency response and post-crash care.
The Corps Marshal also encouraged volunteers to improve their data collection, documentation and reporting practices so that safety interventions would be based on reliable evidence. He identified the 2025 Special Marshals Guidelines as a framework for promoting accountability, transparency, leadership development and better coordination within the scheme.
Earlier, the Sokoto State Coordinator of Special Marshals, Sanusi Usman Wadata, described the conference as an opportunity for members to renew their commitment to public enlightenment, stakeholder engagement and evidence-based road safety activities.
The National Coordinator of Special Marshals, Engineer Adaji Usman, also urged volunteers, through a message delivered by Wadata, to remain committed to their duties, particularly public education and traffic control.
Representatives of the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Customs Service and Nigeria Immigration Service attended the event alongside sector commanders and Special Marshals from Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states. Honorary Special Marshals were also identified for decoration at a subsequent ceremony.
The conference highlighted the importance of cooperation, accurate reporting and professional volunteer service in supporting efforts to make Nigerian roads safer.
Reporting by TalkNaija Media
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