First Lady’s ₦110m ‘Lifeline’ for Kano crash victims as Governor orders crackdown on red-light offenders

By Sharoneez Emephia

Families of 22 young Kano athletes who lost their lives in a devastating road traffic crash earlier this year have received a ₦110 million donation from Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, a gesture described by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) as “a lifeline” and “an act of uncommon compassion.”

The athletes, many in their teens and twenties, were travelling to a national competition when tragedy struck. For months, relatives have struggled with the emotional and financial toll. The donation, FRSC said, will help cover medical costs for survivors, provide support for dependants and ease the economic hardship left behind.

“This is not just a donation; it is dignity restored,” said FRSC Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed. “It is a clear message from the Presidency that no Nigerian life is too small to protect, nor family’s pain too insignificant to address.”

The Corps Marshal linked the gesture to the United Nations’ Decade of Action on Road Safety, noting that post-crash care is as critical as prevention.

While the nation mourns, Kano State has moved to tighten its traffic enforcement regime. Governor Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf yesterday signed an Executive Order mandating full-scale enforcement of all traffic regulations, with particular focus on compliance with traffic lights in Kano metropolis.

Under the Order, FRSC and the Kano Road Traffic Agency (KAROTA) will jointly monitor and prosecute offenders. The Governor said the strategy was designed to save lives through “effective synergy, enhanced enforcement and proactive public education.”

The Corps Marshal pledged to deploy more personnel to high-risk routes, deepen inter-agency cooperation and intensify nationwide awareness campaigns. He warned that motorists caught violating the Order, especially those who run red lights, “will face the full weight of the law without exception.”

He also urged corporate bodies, state governments and citizens to support road safety measures, describing it as “a shared responsibility that requires commitment at every level.”

For the families receiving the First Lady’s support, the policy announcements bring hope that others may be spared their pain. One grieving relative, clutching a photograph of her late son, told reporters: “This gift will help us breathe again. It tells us our loss matters to the whole country.”