International Breweries Plc, in partnership with the AB InBev Foundation, has donated 1,000 reflective jackets and installed 35 cautionary road signs across major highways to reduce road crashes in the country.
According to a statement, IBPLC and AB InBev Foundation carried out the initiative in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps to enhance road user awareness.
Speaking on the initiative, IBPLC’s Corporate Affairs and Regulatory Director, Temitope Oguntokun, said, “As a socially responsible organisation, we are deeply committed to the safety of lives and property. By working closely with the FRSC, we aim to address critical road safety challenges and reduce preventable accidents across Nigeria’s highways.”
Oguntokun added that the partnership demonstrates how collective efforts can significantly enhance road safety, stressing that the reflective jackets and cautionary signs will help save lives and improve compliance with traffic regulations.
The initiative targets high-risk locations, including Lagos, Port Harcourt, Abuja, Ilesha, Onitsha, and Sagamu/Abeokuta, where road accidents are prevalent.
According to the FRSC, Nigeria recorded 10,617 road crashes in 2023, with speed violations and drunk driving identified as major causes.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Kehinde Hamzat, lauded IBPLC and the AB InBev Foundation for their intervention, describing it as a major step towards reducing road fatalities.
Aside from working with the FRSC, IBPLC partnered with the National Union of Road Transport Workers to engage drivers in safe driving practices.
A Lagos-based driver, Olufemi Akanbi, expressed appreciation for the initiative, noting that the signage serves as a reminder of the need to avoid alcohol while driving.
IBPLC cited statistics from the National Bureau of Statistics showing a decline in accident figures, with 21,670 people involved in crashes in 2020, compared to 19,461 in 2024. It added that fatalities also dropped from 885 in 2020 to 693 in 2024, reflecting ongoing efforts by the company and the FRSC to improve road safety.
IBPLC and AB InBev asserted that the road safety initiative aligns with their broader goal of creating a positive impact in the communities where they operate.