Yulrtide: NEMA flags off Operation Eagle Eye to reduce auto crashes in Niger 

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Minna Operations Office, has flagged off the 2025 Operation Eagle Eye as part of efforts to reducing road traffic crashes during the festive season across the state.

The Operation Eagle Eye was flagged off at the Abdulsalami Garage in Minna on Wednesday with the theme: “Take Responsibility for Safety: Stop Distracted Driving.”

The Director General of NEMA, Hajiya Zubaida Umar, said the operation was aimed at enhancing disaster risk reduction, improve response capacity and strengthen collaboration among key stakeholders in road safety management.

Hajiya Zubaida Umar who was represented by Malam Hussein Isah, Head, NEMA, Minna Operations Office, said the initiative was designed to create awareness among motorists and the general public to ensure an accident-free yuletide period.

“This year’s theme is to enhance our response capacity and support key stakeholders by creating awareness among motorists and the public on safety, particularly during the yuletide season,” She said.

She added that the operation would involve monitoring major highways, educating drivers on the causes of road traffic crashes and support response agencies, especially the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in accident prevention and management.

According to her, the operation will also ensure preparedness to respond promptly to incidents in line with international best practices as well as complement efforts of the Police, NSCDC, Fire Service and other emergency responders.

Zubaida Umar expressed concern over rising road crash fatalities, noting that 1,593 Nigerians died in road traffic crashes in the first quarter of 2025, despite a slight reduction in the total number of crashes compared to the same period in 2024.

She added that fatalities increased by 8.3 per cent and injuries by 7.4 per cent in the first quarter, while the second quarter of 2025 recorded a 9.44 per cent increase in crashes, resulting in 1,245 deaths and 8,520 injuries.

She  then attributed most accidents to human-induced factors such as over speeding, distracted driving, drunk driving, over loading and violation of traffic rules, adding that poor road conditions also worsened the situation.

In a goodwill message, the Chief Route Commander of FRSC in Niger, Mr Yusuf Mutalib, described NEMA as a critical stakeholder in ensuring road safety at both federal and state levels.

He said human factors account for more than 80 per cent of road accidents, and this was why stakeholders must work together to ensure drivers avoid overspeeding, wrongful overtaking and overloading during yuletide.

He also urged park managers to help disseminate safety information to drivers and advised passengers to speak out whenever drivers engaged in dangerous driving that could endanger lives.

Also speaking, Alhaji Ibrahim Danladi, Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Abdulsalami Garage, Minna, said the union regularly sensitises its drivers on safe driving practices.

He added that the union enforces strict control measures at the park, adding that vehicles are not allowed to engage in overloading and any driver caught violating the rule is stopped and charged to a mobile court.

Other stakeholders at the event, include the Niger State Fire Service, Nigerian Red Cross Society, Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) and NSCDC, called for regular vehicle checks, drug testing of drivers and strict adherence to traffic rules.

Operation Eagle Eye is an annual NEMA event during ember months to address the increased risks of road accidents, fire outbreaks and other disasters associated with festive activities across the country.