Building on the success of its 2016 anti-corruption drive and the 2022 launch of the FlagIT App, the Akin Fadeyi Foundation (AFF) has unveiled a new advocacy series aimed at tackling Nigeria’s worsening road safety crisis.
Tagged “Accident Not In My Country,” the campaign was launched during a virtual media briefing on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
The event featured high-level stakeholders, including Lagos State Commissioner for Information & Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, and Force Spokesperson, ACP Benjamin Hundeyin, signaling a multi-agency approach to behavioral change.
The Chilling Data: A 9.2% Surge in Deaths
Akin Fadeyi, executive director of Akin Fadeyi Foundation presented a sobering outlook on Nigeria’s road safety landscape, citing 2025 Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) data.
The report paints a picture of a burgeoning public health crisis:
- Total Crashes: 10,446
- Total Casualties: 38,689
- Total Deaths: 5,289, a 9.2% increase year-on-year.
Fadeyi argued that these figures are not merely “accidents” but the result of behavioral infractions.
He identified overspeeding, improper overtaking, driving under the influence (DUI), and overloading as the primary drivers of this menace.
“These are not just numbers; they are unfinished stories and extinguished potentials,” Fadeyi stated. “Our unveiling of this advocacy drama is a civic alarm designed to interrupt dangerous habits that we have, regrettably, normalized.”
Lagos State Pledges Support for Transport Sector Integration
The campaign received a major boost from the Lagos State Government. Commissioner Gbenga Omotoso pledged to involve key transport union leaders, including MC Oluomo and Seko, to ensure the message reaches the grassroots of the road transportation sector.
Omotoso emphasized that the responsibility for safety is shared between the government and the citizenry, particularly in the protection of road infrastructure.
Strategic Partnerships: From Civic-Tech to Ethics
The AFF has moved beyond traditional nonprofit work, positioning itself as a structural catalyst through partnerships with:
- Nigeria Police Force: Collaborating on behavioral change projects since 2017.
- FRSC: Empowering over 2,200 officers with ethical and service-delivery competencies.
- FlagIT App: Utilizing civic-tech to bridge the gap between public outrage and institutional action.
- International Backing: Continuing the legacy of support from the MacArthur Foundation, EU, UNDP, and the S. Mission in Nigeria.
Media as a Backbone for Reform
Azu Ishiekwene, editor-in-chief of Leadership Newspaper, and Simon Kolawole, founder of The Cable, joined the call for sustained media advocacy.
Ishiekwene pledged his platform’s “unalloyed support,” noting that behavioural change is the spine of sustainable national reform.
Techeconomy Analysis:
The 9.2% rise in road fatalities is a significant macroeconomic burden, impacting human capital and increasing healthcare costs.
By moving away from conventional nonprofit methods toward creative storytelling and bottom-up behavioural change, the AFF is attempting to lower the economic cost of road transport, Nigeria’s most vital logistics artery.
The successful integration of transport unions like those in Lagos could be the silver bullet for this campaign’s effectiveness.
