Kehinde Ishola
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Monday issued a nationwide directive ordering all construction companies working on Nigerian roads to immediately install adequate road signs at every construction site.
According to the Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, the directive aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s ongoing efforts to overhaul the country’s road network through extensive construction and rehabilitation projects.
In a statement signed the same day by the FRSC spokesperson, Olusegun Ogungbemide, the corps said the order is aimed at protecting motorists navigating areas where construction activities are ongoing.
“This directive is to ensure the safety of the motoring public around construction sites,” the statement said, adding that companies must “install, maintain, and continuously update proper road signage at every active or inactive construction area without exception.”
Mohammed directed all FRSC Commanding Officers to commence strict and effective enforcement of the order with immediate effect.
He condemned the recurring failure of some construction firms to provide adequate warning, information and diversion signs, noting that such negligence “places motorists and other road users at serious risk.”
The corps marshal stressed that the directive is final and enforceable, adding that field commands would intensify supervision, while contractors who violate approved safety standards would face decisive regulatory actions.
Reaffirming the agency’s commitment to stakeholder collaboration, Mohammed said the Federal Government’s investments in road infrastructure must translate into safer travel for Nigerians.
“We are determined to ensure that the Federal Government’s investment in road infrastructure results in safer, more secure journeys for all road users,” he said.
The FRSC has consistently raised concerns over the lack of proper and uniform signage at road construction and maintenance sites across the country. As far back as 2010, the agency warned that missing or defaced signs had turned many construction zones into death traps.
Identified hazards include missing signs, defective diversions, poor night lighting, illegal openings or U-turn points near worksites, deep potholes, failed road portions and other dangers to unsuspecting motorists.
To address the problem, the FRSC previously introduced a Standard Road Signage Code for construction sites nationwide. Former Corps Marshal Boboye Oyeyemi also urged firms to adopt standardised signs and inaugurated a signage production facility in Gwagwalada, Federal Capital Territory, to supply compliant signs.
Despite these efforts, the agency says many construction firms continue to flout signage requirements, a situation it has linked to numerous accidents, particularly at diversion points within construction zones.