FRSC Vows Strict Penalties for Overloading, Unsafe Loading
Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed warns drivers, transport unions and cargo owners against practices that endanger passengers and other road users
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has vowed to intensify enforcement against vehicle overloading and unsafe mix-loading, warning drivers, transport operators and cargo owners that offenders will face appropriate punishment under the law.
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The Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, gave the warning on Thursday during a mega motor park rally at Nyanya Central Terminal in Abuja, organised to raise awareness about the dangers of excessive loading and the transportation of incompatible goods.
The rally, themed “Overloading and Mix-loading: A Dangerous Trend to Avoid”, was jointly organised by the FRSC and African Gem, a herbal health drink brand.
Mohammed, who was represented by the Assistant Corps Marshal, Operations, Godwin Omiko, described the campaign as a call for a fundamental change in attitudes and practices across Nigeria’s transport sector.
He questioned the justification for risking human lives in pursuit of additional commercial profit, insisting that no financial gain could outweigh the safety of road users.
According to him, overloading occurs when a vehicle carries passengers or goods beyond its legally permitted capacity, placing excessive pressure on critical components such as tyres, brakes and suspension systems.
He explained that the practice compromises vehicle stability, increases stopping distances and raises the likelihood of tyre failure, loss of control and road crashes.
“Safety must never be sacrificed for profit,” Mohammed said, stressing that the ability of an overloaded vehicle to move does not mean it is safe to operate.
The Corps Marshal also warned about the dangers of mix-loading, particularly when incompatible or hazardous materials are transported together, goods are poorly arranged or cargo is not adequately secured.
He noted that an overloaded truck might leave a loading bay without difficulty but could become extremely dangerous when its compromised braking capacity and stability are tested during an emergency.
Similarly, he warned that overcrowded commercial buses expose passengers to avoidable risks and could worsen the consequences of road crashes.
Mohammed said the FRSC would continue enforcing existing regulations, adding that its objective was not simply to apprehend offenders but to secure compliance, prevent avoidable accidents and save lives.
“We want every truck to carry a lawful load, every commercial bus to respect its approved passenger capacity, and every consignment to be properly arranged and secured,” he said.
He added that the corps wanted safe loading to become standard practice across the country’s transport industry rather than something operators observed only when enforcement officers were present.
The FRSC boss stressed that public enlightenment should not be mistaken for leniency, warning that the corps would not tolerate unsafe practices despite its preference for voluntary compliance.
“Public enlightenment is not a substitute for enforcement, and our preference for voluntary compliance must not be mistaken for tolerance of unsafe practices,” he said.
Mohammed urged commercial drivers to resist pressure from vehicle owners, cargo merchants and daily revenue targets whenever such demands could compromise safety.
He advised drivers to reject loads that exceeded their vehicles’ approved capacity or could not be transported securely.
He also called on transport unions and motor park executives to make safety a condition for operating within their parks by discouraging overloading and supporting drivers who insist on following regulations.
Cargo owners and fleet operators, he said, must ensure that appropriate vehicles are provided, weight limits are respected, incompatible goods are not improperly combined and cargo is properly secured before transportation.
Mohammed further appealed to passengers to refuse to board overcrowded or visibly unsafe vehicles, emphasising that everyone involved in the transportation chain had a responsibility to prevent road crashes.
The rally was attended by transport industry stakeholders, union leaders and members, commercial drivers, fleet operators, cargo owners and journalists.
The FRSC’s renewed warning places responsibility not only on drivers but also on those who determine what vehicles carry and how goods and passengers are loaded.
Also read: NAFDAC Destroys N8bn in Fake, Banned Products in North-Central
The corps says sustained public education and enforcement will remain central to its efforts to improve road safety.
