Abuja: Confronting one of Nigeria’s most urgent road safety threats, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Beer Sectoral Group (BSG) have renewed a five-year pact to eliminate drunk driving and champion responsible alcohol consumption nationwide.
The agreement, described as a joint offensive against one of the most preventable causes of road crashes, was signed on Monday at the FRSC National Headquarters, Abuja.
A statement by the Corps Public Education Officer (CPEO), Mr Osondu Ohaeri, said that the agreement also aimed at promoting responsible alcohol consumption among motorists in Nigeria.
Ohaeri said that the pact was jointly executed by the Corps Marshal, FRSC, Malam Shehu Mohammed, and the Chairman of the Beer Sectoral Group, Thibaut Boidin.
Speaking at the event, the Corps Marshal said the partnership represented a deliberate and sustained effort to tackle drink driving in the country.
Mohammed said that, over the next five years, the partnership’s impact would be monitored through measurable outcomes such as reductions in drunk-driving cases, decreases in alcohol-related road crashes, and improvements in national road safety indicators.
He also emphasised that the initiative would help dismantle attitudes that normalise alcohol consumption alongside driving.
He emphasised that this initiative is a strategic and determined approach to addressing drunk driving, recognised as the single most preventable cause of road carnage in Nigeria.
He stated that the agreement brings together the enforcement authority and industry influence to enhance the safety of commuters, families, and all individuals on Nigeria’s roads.
Mohammed added that the MoU would intensify nationwide campaigns, public education, and targeted interventions against drink-driving.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Beer Sectoral Group, Thibaut Boidin, said the collaboration reflected the brewing industry’s commitment to promoting responsible consumption.
“While the FRSC contributes statutory authority and data-driven enforcement, the Beer Sectoral Group supports with reach, resources, and responsibility.
Together, we aim to change the culture that views alcohol and driving as compatible activities,” he said.
He noted that the partnership would focus on achieving sustainable reductions in drunk driving through behavioural change, with its success measured by tracking fewer alcohol-related accidents and injuries over time.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by the Chief Executive Officer of Guinness Nigeria Plc, Girish Sharma, and the Managing Director of International Breweries Plc, Nicholas Kade.
Also present were the Beer Sectoral Group Executive Director, Abiola Lasinde, and senior management of the FRSC.
The FRSC is expected to deploy its enforcement mandate and data-driven strategies, while the Beer Sectoral Group will provide resources, outreach platforms and industry-wide support for responsible alcohol advocacy.
Both organisations jointly warned: “If you drink, don’t drive.”
