The Oyo State Road Traffic Management Authority (OYRTMA) has unveiled a four-pillar strategy for its 2026 Ember Months Road Safety Campaign aimed at reducing road crashes and protecting lives during the yuletide season.
The Executive Chairman of the Authority, Major Adesagba Adekoya (rtd), disclosed this on Thursday at a press conference held at the OYRTMA headquarters, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, to officially kick-start the campaign.
The theme for this year’s campaign is “Safe Roads, Safe Lives: Drive Responsibly This Ember Season,” with Yoruba translation: “Abo Ni Opopona Wa, Abo Emi: Wa Oko Pelu Iwa Omoluabi Ni Akoko Poposhinshin Odun Yi.”
Addressing journalists, Major Adekoya said the Authority’s preparedness for this year’s campaign rests on four strategic pillars: decentralised advocacy, targeted enforcement, strengthened emergency response through inter-agency collaboration, and rigorous monitoring and evaluation.
“Our approach is built on decentralised advocacy; targeted enforcement; strengthened emergency response through inter-agency collaboration; and rigorous monitoring and evaluation. We are highly confident that these measures will significantly reduce road traffic crashes and protect lives this Ember period and beyond,” he stated.
He outlined other activities lined up for the campaign to include a stakeholder engagement on Friday, October 31, 2026, with targeted outreach to mosques and churches, facilitated by the Special Assistants to the Governor on Islamic Affairs and Inter-Faith during Friday Jumu’ah and Sunday services.
According to him, the statewide campaign will officially commence with a grand road walk on Monday, November 2, 2026, followed by sensitisation activities across the state which will run until January 15, 2027.
Major Adekoya added that to ensure wider coverage, all 16 OYRTMA Zonal Commands spread across the state will conduct localised campaigns within their respective Areas of Responsibility (AOR), in collaboration with the Park Management System (PMS), the Oyo State Rule of Law Enforcement Authority (OYRLEA) and other relevant stakeholders.
He said the sensitisation messages will focus on critical road safety practices, including obeying traffic rules and regulations, avoiding excessive speeding and dangerous overtaking, refraining from driving under the influence of alcohol, ensuring proper vehicle maintenance and roadworthiness, avoiding the use of mobile phones while driving, mandatory use of seatbelts, avoiding overloading, exercising patience and caution, and strictly avoiding driving against traffic (one-way).
For emergencies, accidents, vehicle breakdowns or to report traffic obstructions, members of the public are urged to contact OYRTMA through 615 Toll-Free, 0912 888 8878 and 0704 700 0594.
The OYRTMA boss called on all motorists, commercial drivers, transport operators and passengers to partner with the Authority by adhering strictly to traffic laws.
“Road safety is a collective responsibility. Let us all work together to ensure that this Ember season is characterised by joy, peace, and zero fatalities on our roads,” he urged.
