Deplorable state of Nigerian roads calls for serious concern
Recently, accidents have become unbridled and spreading like wildfire with many Nigerians losing their lives and properties daily to these avoidable tragedies. These avoidable accidents have thrown families into lamentation as they lost their loved ones while in search of their daily bread.
Between January and August, there have been accidents in various areas of Nigeria including Lagos, Kano, Ogun among others.
The deplorable state of the roads is a serious issue that needed to be addressed with impelling alacrity. Most of these roads had been used for years without proper maintenance. When pot holes are detected on these roads, they are not attended to on time till the road becomes damaged. This makes the road weak and in no time, it gives way.
Some stakeholders have attributed the deplorable state of the roads, bribe collection by street urchins and road operatives, over speeding, rickety trucks, inefficient traffic enforcement and regulations across the country, indiscriminate parking on the road to pick passengers, overloading containers to cut cost amongst others as factors responsible for carnage on our roads.
One of the most recent of these accidents occurred in the Badagry area of Lagos State as an 18-seater commercial bus filled with partygoers crashed, killing all passengers onboard.
The driver of the bus and his motor boy also died in the tragic accident.
It was gathered that the deceased passengers had chartered the bus from the Yaba area of Lagos to attend a group party in the Republic of Benin.
The accident happened about 9am at Age-Mowo close to Mowo along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, said a spokesman for the state’s traffic management body, Taofiq Adebayo.
Another instance is that of a renowned professor of communication, Lai Oso, who was reported to have died on the evening of Saturday, June 24, in an auto crash in Ijebu axis along Ore-Sagamu expressway.
He was said to be returning home from Delta State University (DELSU) where he was an external examiner at the department of Mass Communication. The car conveying him was said to have reached the Ijebu axis on the expressway before it plunged into a river.
In every single month across Nigeria, scores of Nigerians die untimely deaths occasioned by traffic fatalities. As the news of Nigeria’s latest road crash break each day, and the families of the latest unfortunate victims are left to mourn their losses, Nigerians in the surrounding streets, villages, cities and states move on with life praying and hoping that the next crash will be averted by the forces of prayers and faith in God’s protective grace.
But, the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) recently disclosed that 1,349 people were killed in road accidents between January 1 and April 12, 2023. The commission also said that 2,463 crashes occurred during the period.
According to the FRSC, the crash involved 3,965 vehicles conveying 16,102 people. Out of that number, 1,349 people were killed, while 7,744 got injured. Annually, Nigeria is said to lose between six and 15,000 lives from auto crashes. The statistics depend on the source.
On paper, the data on Nigeria’s annual traffic fatality gives the hope that we are making progress compared to how terrible the situation was over two decades ago. In reality, needless crashes continue to occur on Nigerian roads taking with them brilliant hopes, beautiful dreams, glorious purposes and distinct destinies.
Like the other problem-riddled aspects of our lives, Nigerians continue to grapple with the problem of avoidable deaths on the roadways every day because of the famous ‘Nigerian factor.’ It is the Nigerian factor that makes the various agencies of the road safety sector prefer working in silos and promoting operational disconnect that puts Nigeria on the list of some of the nations with the highest number of road deaths globally.
Recently, the FRSC Corps Marshal, Dauda Biu emphasised the role of over-speeding in road fatalities worldwide. He further stated that vehicle design and manufacturing can improve mobility and reduce crashes on Nigerian roads. Biu stated that high road accident rates had led to global campaigns and actions aimed at mitigating the problem.
Traffic accidents on our roads are daily occurrences and result in alarming levels of lethality. This issue requires urgent attention from the federal and state authorities. To address this, all tiers of government must renew their efforts in road safety and traffic management. The FRSC must enforce existing traffic rules without partiality to effectively reduce traffic accident deaths, which pose a serious public safety issue.
Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) states that 41,709 people died in road crashes in Nigeria between 2013 and 2020, with 3,574 fatalities in 2020 alone. Despite the FRSC’s reported 54 per cent reduction from 1987 to 2021, road accidents remain a major concern, with 13,027 crashes recorded in 2021. The World Health Organisation’s (WHO) 2015 report revealed that one in four car crash deaths in Africa occurred in Nigeria. Additionally, between 2009 and 2013, 18,353 road accidents were reported.
WHO estimates that Nigeria accounts for 2.82 per cent of global road accident deaths, resulting in 41,693 mortalities. The World Bank ranks Nigeria 54th in road accidents. Road accidents in the country drain approximately 3.0 per cent of GDP, as reported by WHO.
Additionally, they emit black smoke and are often equipped with worn-out tyres, wobbling dangerously. Tanker drivers speed recklessly, while trucks carry unlatched containers. Unfortunately, these containers sometimes fall on smaller vehicles, resulting in fatalities and injuries.
Sadly, the FRSC’s focus on revenue generation has resulted in high road accident and casualty rates in Nigeria. Despite remitting billions to the government, the country recorded 5,400 catastrophes in 12,077 road accidents in 2015. It is crucial for the Corps to prioritise saving lives over self-adulation and revenue generation. Creative solutions and strict enforcement can significantly reduce accidents. Life is irreplaceable, and the FRSC must ensure Nigerian citizens’ safety on the roads.
It is imperative that the Presidency and state governments provide sufficient funding and resources to federal and state law enforcement and traffic agencies. These agencies should operate with a strong emphasis on professionalism and service. The incorporation of technology, such as CCTV on all highways and mobile courts, would greatly enhance their ability to quickly and effectively handle traffic offences.
The implementation of the Safe System Approach has led to a notable decrease in the occurrence of crashes, injuries, and fatalities in various countries, namely Canada, Singapore, Belgium, and Ghana. Nigeria would benefit from adopting this approach, provided that its underlying principles are strictly adhered to. Ensuring the consistent upkeep of existing roads, along with the construction of new ones, will undoubtedly result in safer highways. It is vital to enforce regulations that prohibit the use of non-roadworthy vehicles on the roads going forward.
A promise to fast-track the completion of the highway with the release of $311 million from three foreign governments in 2020 was shrouded in opacity. Sad to say that the Sagamu-Benin Expressway, the Ibadan–Oyo–Ogbomoso-Ilorin Expressway, and other highways remain unfinished despite several years after its commencement. This has negatively impacted travellers, tourism and businesses.
The Federal Government must address the issue of damaged roads, as they are critical to the economy and development of a country. State governors, driven by their desire to bring development to their areas, have been known to undertake road reconstruction or rehabilitation. Former Rivers governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, and a few others successfully maintained and repaired some federal roads in their states.
