, Katsina Sector Command, has intensified public enlightenment against the dangerous practice of mix-loading at the bustling Charanchi){kind=link}
Charanchi—Determined to curb avoidable road deaths during the yuletide rush, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Katsina Sector Command, has intensified public enlightenment against the dangerous practice of mix-loading at the bustling Charanchi Livestock Market.
The sensitisation exercise, held on Sunday, December 21, 2025, targeted traders, drivers and transport operators over the hazardous habit of conveying animals, goods and passengers in the same vehicle—a violation the Corps identified as a major trigger of road traffic crashes, particularly during the pre-, mid- and post-Christmas travel surge.
Leading the campaign, the Katsina Sector Commander, Maxwell K. Lede, warned that improper loading places lives at grave risk and must be eliminated at the point of departure. He said Charanchi Market was deliberately chosen because of its status as a major international livestock hub, attracting traders from across the North-West and neighbouring Niger Republic, making it a critical source point for unsafe loading practices.
Earlier, the Sector Commander paid a courtesy visit to the District Head of Charanchi, Alhaji Abdulkadir Abashe, the Sarkin Shanun Katsina, seeking the backing of traditional institutions in enforcing compliance. The District Head pledged full support, commending the FRSC for sustained grassroots engagement and proactive safety advocacy.
The campaign also extended to the leadership of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), where taxi, bus and truck operators were reminded of their responsibility to stop mix-loading before vehicles hit the highway. Lede expressed concern that several fatal crashes in southern Nigeria had been traced to unsafe loading originating from the North-West, citing a recent deadly incident in Oyo State involving an overloaded truck carrying animals and passengers, linked to Charanchi.
Describing persistent traffic law violations as an assault on the sanctity of human life, the Sector Commander urged transport leaders to place safety above profit, noting that leadership is a stewardship with accountability to society and to God.
In response, NURTW leaders welcomed the engagement and pledged close collaboration with the FRSC, vowing to enforce approved loading standards and ensure safer journeys on Nigerian roads.
As the festive season peaks, the FRSC says the Charanchi campaign is part of a broader strategy to cut crashes at the source and protect lives across the nation’s highways.
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