Abuja, Nigeria - In collaboration with Rivers State University and Together for Safer Roads (TSR), UNITAR successfully concluded its "Fleet Safety Regional Training Workshop" in Abuja, Nigeria, on 30-31 July 2025, bringing government officials from the Ministry of Transport of Nigeria, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), companies operating midsize and large-sized fleets in Nigeria, along with representatives from the Rivers State University. International participants included representatives from the Ministry of Transport, Works and Infrastructure of The Gambia, municipal leaders from the eThekwini Municipality in South Africa, the City of Dakar in Senegal, and the New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services in the USA. Private sector companies operating fleets in the USA, Mozambique, Nigeria and Zambia, along with TSR experts, shared good practices in fleet management and exchanged regional and global road safety approaches.
The regional workshop held in Nigeria is part of UNITAR's " Fleet Safety Global Training Programme, " which seeks to contribute to preventing road-related fatalities through knowledge and capacity-building. By taking the best practices of the largest public and private sector fleets and leading road safety technology companies, the Programme offers targeted training for small to midsize and large-sized fleets on designing and implementing comprehensive fleet safety plans and strategies.
In line with the Global Plan of the Decade of Action for Road Safety and UN SDG target 3.6 of reducing road traffic deaths and injuries by 50% by 2030, the Regional Workshop focused on strengthening capacities to build holistic safety systems within their organizations. Critical topics such as safe system approach, Vision Zero, regulation, alignment with international frameworks, and shared regional priorities across public and private sectors were addressed. Through collaborative discussions, action planning, and global insights, participants gained practical road safety knowledge and leadership skills applicable to their organizational contexts.
Learning objectives of the Workshop included:
- Identifying key risk factors contributing to fleet-related road incidents
- Analysing how leadership behaviours and organizational culture influence driver safety and risk reduction
- Developing an action plan to improve fleet safety performance using best practices and available technologies
International experts highlighted how capacity-building, leadership, targeted interventions, and innovation strengthen safety culture. Leaders of large public and private fleets across Africa and the United States shared their approaches to fleet safety plans, emphasizing compliance, education, speed management, and regulatory alignment. Speakers showcased technologies and training initiatives that improve cost efficiency and enable real-time monitoring of driver performance. They also stressed the need for region-specific strategies, they highlighted the role of awareness campaigns and targeted driver training in supporting road safety policy compliance.
"This workshop reflects our shared vision of harnessing the power of education, leadership, and technological advancement to address the pressing challenges of road and fleet safety in a rapidly changing world."-Professor Isaac Zeb-Obipi, Vice Chancellor, Rivers State University
"By integrating safe fleet design, data management, and risk monitoring mechanisms among our fleets, we have observed significant reductions in at-risk driving factors"-Mr. Keith Kerman, Chief Fleet Officer, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Citywide Administrative Services (NYC DCAS)
"It was inspiring to see participants join forces to produce actionable insights from the workshop. By facilitating the exchange of good fleet safety practices on a global scale, participants were empowered with concrete actions to achieve Vision Zero through the safe systems approach, built a shared commitment to safer fleet operations in their sectors, and learned how to create not only accountability but also rewards for driver behaviours." - Mr. Eric Richardson, Senior Advisor, Together for Safer Roads (TSR)
"The 'Fleet Safety Global Training Programme' aims to support fleet leaders and their drivers to create meaningful changes in their road safety culture, training programmes, and technology adoption, empowering organizations to move beyond compliance towards achieving Vision Zero, ultimately enhancing road safety on a global scale". Ms. Estrella Merlos, Senior Policy Specialist and Road Safety Head, UNITAR
The workshop also brought together UNITAR's affiliated CIFAL training centres in Africa to exchange good practices and explore forms of collaboration to expand the Fleet Safety Programme reach and impact. CIFAL Durban Director Dr. Mpilo Ngubane, CIFAL Banjul Director Dr. Christopher Belford, CIFAL Dakar Director Mr. Mamadou Mbow, and CIFAL Nigeria Director Ms. Ihuoma Njemanze joined efforts in making this workshop a success.
"The inaugural Fleet Safety regional workshop demonstrated the power of global collaboration, bringing together industry, government officials, academics, UN Country teams, fleet operators and safety experts. Together, fleet leaders raised awareness and examined the state of road safety in Africa to collectively advance sustainable development." - Ms. Ihuoma Njemanze, Director, CIFAL Nigeria.
"The fleet safety workshop gave us practical tools we can apply immediately, and just as importantly, it strengthened regional collaboration. As a result, municipalities are more aligned to improve fleet operations and build a safer road network for everyone." - Prof. Mpilo Ngubane, Director, CIFAL Durban, Chief Learning Officer, eThekwini Municipal Academy, South Africa.
Building on this success, the Fleet Safety Global Training Programme will focus on expanding capacity-building, deepening global knowledge exchange, and strengthening regional collaboration to reduce fleet-related fatalities and injuries in Africa. UNITAR and its partners are committed to advancing safer fleet operations, achieving measurable reductions in road accidents, and driving progress towards the global Vision Zero goal through continued innovation, collaboration, and leadership.
