The Senior Special Assistant to the Kogi State Governor on Road Safety Matters, Dr. Yusuf Suberu, has advised motorists to exercise maximum caution during the rainy season to prevent avoidable accidents.
Suberu noted that the season brings challenges such as slippery roads, flooding, reduced visibility, and frequent vehicle breakdowns. He stressed that Kogi’s central location as a gateway between northern and southern Nigeria makes its highways among the busiest in the country, requiring heightened vigilance.
“The rainy season increases the risk of crashes due to reduced traction, obscured road markings, and the likelihood of vehicles skidding when brakes are applied suddenly. Overspeeding, reckless overtaking, and poor vehicle maintenance often lead to fatalities in these conditions,” he explained.
He urged drivers to carry out routine checks on their vehicles, focusing on tyres, brakes, wipers, and lights. He warned against using worn-out or expired tyres, which he described as a major cause of fatal accidents on wet roads.
Other safety measures he recommended include reducing speed, keeping a safe distance between vehicles, switching on headlights during rainfall or cloudy weather, and avoiding flooded roads. Suberu also cautioned commercial drivers against embarking on night journeys during the rainy season, citing the dangers of fatigue and poor visibility.
Highlighting government efforts, he said his office is collaborating with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), transport unions, and traditional rulers to intensify sensitisation campaigns across motor parks, schools, and communities. He added that the Usman Ododo administration is also working to improve emergency response services and promote safer road use.
“Road safety is not the sole responsibility of government. It is a collective task we must all contribute to. If we adopt precautionary measures, especially in this rainy season, we will save lives, protect families, and safeguard the state’s socio-economic stability,” Suberu said.
He further called on the media and civil society organisations to support awareness campaigns that encourage responsible driving behaviour.