Nigeria recorded a sharp increase in road traffic crashes in the fourth quarter of 2025.

The Southwest and the Northcentral zones were the most affected regions, according to the latest data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

The report showed that a total of 2,731 road traffic crashes were recorded in Q4 2025, representing a 12.2 per cent increase, compared to the 2,434 crashes reported in Q3 2025. On a year-on-year basis, the figure also rose by 6.72 per cent from the 2,559 crashes recorded in the corresponding period of 2024, which shows a sustained upward trajectory in road accidents across the country.

A breakdown of the data revealed a troubling pattern in the nature of the crashes.

Serious accidents accounted for the bulk of incidents, with 1,775 cases recorded within the period. Fatal crashes followed with 677 cases, while minor crashes were significantly lower at 279. The dominance of serious and fatal crashes points to a growing severity in road traffic incidents, raising concerns about road safety compliance, enforcement, and infrastructure resilience.

Regional analysis showed that the South-West zone recorded the highest number of crashes at 763, closely followed by the North-Central with 744 cases. In contrast, the South-South zone reported the lowest number of crashes at 152, indicating relatively lower incident levels within the region.

But the pattern shifted when casualties were examined. The Northcentral zone recorded the highest number of casualties at 2,649, surpassing the Southwest despite having fewer crashes. The Northwest followed with 2,497 casualties, while the Southsouth again recorded the lowest at 420.

The divergence between crash frequency and casualty figures suggests that accidents in the Northcentral zone tend to be more severe, with higher human impact per incident.

This disparity points to possible differences in road conditions, speed levels on major corridors, and the effectiveness of emergency response systems across regions.

Further data from the report showed that a total of 4,059 vehicles were involved in crashes during the quarter, marking a 9.41 per cent increase from the 3,710 vehicles recorded in Q3 2025. The rising number of vehicles involved reflects growing traffic density and pressure on Nigeria’s road infrastructure, particularly in economically active corridors.

An analysis of fatalities by gender revealed a stark imbalance. Of the 1,374 persons killed in road crashes during the period, 1,085 were male, accounting for 78.97 per cent, while 289 were female, representing 21.03 per cent. Similarly, of the 8,726 persons injured, 6,561 were male, accounting for 75.19 per cent, compared to 2,165 females at 24.81 per cent.

The disproportionate impact on men highlights deeper behavioural and structural dynamics within Nigeria’s road transport ecosystem, including higher male participation in driving, commercial transport operations, and long-distance travel, as well as greater exposure to high-risk driving conditions. (The Nation)