Nigeria’s road safety crisis demands comprehensive action
Road traffic crashes (RTCs) have become a growing concern in Nigeria, as indicated by the latest figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics. Despite the efforts of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to reduce accidents by five percent, the increasing number of RTCs calls for a more comprehensive and collaborative approach.
During a workshop in Benue State, the Corps Marshal/CEO of the FRSC, Dauda Biu, emphasised the importance of improving data collection, analysis, and management to enhance road safety policy formulation.
While these efforts are commendable, the reality on the ground suggests that more needs to be done. Despite claims of a 15.5 percent decrease in fatalities in 2023 compared to the previous year, the number of RTCs remains high. This discrepancy raises doubts about the effectiveness of current measures.
Additionally, experts attribute the rising RTCs to weak traffic law enforcement, which often manifests as extortion rather than genuine enforcement.
A notable issue lies in the disproportionate targeting of private vehicles by federal and state enforcement agencies, while commercial vehicle operators, who are often the worst traffic law violators, go largely unchecked.
This biased approach not only fails to address the root causes of accidents but also perpetuates a culture of impunity among commercial drivers.
The deplorable state of roads across the country exacerbates the occurrence of accidents and the resulting fatalities and injuries. Dilapidated road infrastructure poses a significant risk to motorists and must be urgently addressed to ensure safer travel conditions.
To effectively combat the alarming rise in RTCs, a more comprehensive and collaborative approach is required. The Federal Road Safety Corps, alongside federal and state enforcement agencies, must prioritize genuine enforcement efforts, targeting commercial vehicle operators who pose the greatest risk.
Furthermore, urgent attention must be given to improving road infrastructure to ensure safer travel conditions for all road users.
Only through these concerted efforts can Nigeria hope to reduce the devastating impact of road traffic crashes on its citizens.
In the vast tapestry of Nigerian roads, a troubling pattern emerges – one painted with potholes, gallops, and treacherous bumps. These roads, adorned with untarred surfaces, overgrown bushes, and a medley of mud, stones, and gravel, have become breeding grounds for road accidents.
A recent research published in the esteemed Asian Journal of Advanced Research and Reports shed light on this alarming situation. It revealed that Nigerian roads, plagued by their dilapidated state, have claimed a staggering number of lives.
According to the World Health Organisation, the recorded deaths from road traffic accidents in Nigeria amounted to 41,693, accounting for 2.82 percent of the global total.
This distressing statistic has led the World Bank to rank Nigeria 54th in the world in terms of road accidents. While the crumbling infrastructure plays a significant role in these tragedies, other factors contribute to the scale of road accidents.
Poor vehicle maintenance, the reckless behavior of drivers, the perilous act of driving under the influence of alcohol, the distraction caused by using phones while driving, and the temptation of excessive speeding all add fuel to this fiery epidemic.
The World Health Organisation, in its profound concern, has also highlighted the distressing number of deaths among children and young adults.
This sobering reality serves as a poignant reminder of the urgent need for action.It is clear that the canvas of Nigerian roads is in dire need of a creative touch.
A brushstroke of improved infrastructure, a palette of responsible driving habits, and a symphony of road safety measures can harmonise to create a masterpiece of safer roads for all.
Approximately 1.35 million people die, and 50 million sustain injuries every year from RTCs worldwide, it added. While 93 percent of road fatalities occur in low-and-middle-income nations, countries like Nigeria lose up to 3.0 percent of their GDP to road accidents. The federal and state governments must therefore demonstrate strong commitment to reducing RTCs.
FRSC officers need to step up honest and vigorous enforcement. States need to do more; only Lagos and a handful of others have recognised the need for robust laws and traffic management agencies. They should professionalise, equip, fund, and motivate its traffic managers, and impose order and safety on the roads. The FRSC should restrict itself to federal roads.
The FRSC should be well-equipped and funded. Ambulance and other first responder services should be upgraded for efficiency by the various governments.
The roads should be maintained, and new ones constantly built. The vehicle insurance system should be reformed, and road safety laws and regulations perpetually enforced free of corruption and extortion.
