The Federal Road Safety Corps has raised concerns over the dangers of vehicle overloading, warning that the practice puts road users at risk, damages infrastructure and creates wider economic challenges.
The Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, gave the warning on Thursday at the National Breakfast Policy Dialogue and the launch of the National Movement for Safe Loading and Safe Roads.
Mohammed said overloading should not be viewed merely as a traffic offence, describing it as a major concern for road safety, infrastructure, logistics and economic development.
According to him, vehicles carrying loads beyond their approved capacity become more difficult to control, with excessive weight affecting braking, steering and stability.
He added that overloading also accelerates vehicle wear and increases the likelihood of crashes, while placing additional pressure on roads and contributing to their premature deterioration.
The Corps Marshal also drew attention to the dangers associated with improper and mixed loading, stressing that safety concerns were not limited to the amount of cargo being transported.
He said combining passengers with cargo, carrying incompatible or dangerous materials, and failing to properly secure or distribute loads could expose drivers, passengers and other road users to serious risks.
Mohammed noted that the problem was particularly prevalent in the haulage and logistics sector, where efforts to maximise the number of goods transported in each trip could encourage operators to disregard safety requirements.
He stressed that commercial gains or efforts to reduce transportation costs should never take precedence over human lives.
According to him, transport operators must ensure that vehicles only carry loads they are designed, licensed and properly configured to transport.
He further linked road safety to Nigeria’s broader economic activities, noting that the country depends heavily on road transportation for the movement of agricultural produce, raw materials, manufactured goods, fuel and other essential commodities.
“A safe transportation system is therefore not an impediment to economic development; it is a foundation for it,” Mohammed said.
He explained that the effects of overloading were felt across several sectors, with government bearing the cost of damaged roads, transport operators paying for vehicle deterioration and businesses and consumers suffering delays in the movement of goods.
However, he said the consequences became far more devastating when overloading contributed to fatal crashes, leaving families to bear losses that could not be measured financially.
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Mohammed rejected the idea that commercial efficiency and road safety were competing priorities, saying both could be achieved through responsible transportation practices.
The FRSC boss said enforcement would remain an important part of the Corps’ response but acknowledged that enforcement alone would not eliminate the problem.
He called for greater responsibility among cargo owners, shippers, loading agents, transporters, fleet operators, drivers, regulators and government agencies.
“Those who order, determine, load, authorise and transport cargo must accept responsibility for its safety consequences,” he said.
Mohammed urged cargo owners and shippers to declare the correct weight of goods and ensure that loads were safely arranged.
He also advised transport operators to properly maintain their vehicles and comply with approved weight limits, while urging drivers to reject loads that were unsafe, improperly mixed or inadequately secured.
He disclosed that the FRSC would intensify enforcement, public awareness campaigns and engagement with stakeholders while expanding the use of intelligence, technology and data to improve compliance.
Mohammed said the National Movement for Safe Loading and Safe Roads should become a national effort rather than remain an initiative of the FRSC.
He said the movement should involve government agencies, businesses, transport operators, drivers, regulators, professional organisations, civil society groups, development partners and the media.
According to him, the initiative will lead to the adoption and signing of the Abuja Declaration 2026, which is expected to establish clear responsibilities, measurable commitments, timelines and mechanisms for monitoring progress on safe loading and road safety.