By Oso Abidemi
In a bold step to curb road accidents and save lives, the federal government has commissioned new low speed limit signs on key urban roads in Abuja, marking a crucial milestone in the nation’s road safety efforts.
The initiative, spearheaded by the Federal Ministry of Transportation and executed by Ochenuell Mobility, rolled out 20 and 30 kilometers per hour signs across eight busy corridors of the capital city.
At the commissioning on Abidjan Street, Wuse Zone 3, the ministry’s permanent secretary, Musa Ibrahim, described the move as a timely intervention that will “help save lives and foster responsible urban driving.”
Engineer Emmanuel John, CEO of Ochenuell Mobility, said the project aligns with the 8th United Nations Global Road Safety Week and Nigeria’s 2022 decision to adopt 30km/h as the default speed in urban areas.
“Yet, until now, no real implementation,” John noted. “We found school zones in the FCT without a single speed sign. How can drivers or enforcers know the limits when they are not posted?”
He pointed to alarming figures showing that speed accounts for over half of all road crashes nationwide, with Abuja topping the charts. Pedestrians and cyclists make up 40 percent of fatalities-most hit by speeding vehicles.
“This is more than signage,” John said. “It’s a commitment to protect lives, reduce emissions, lower urban noise, and make our streets walkable and safe again.”
The project is a call to action for nationwide compliance and enforcement, setting the pace for safer cities across Nigeria.
