NIGERIAN Red Cross Society has said Nigeria is grappling with one of the highest road traffic accident rates in the world, stating that 10 per cent of the two million people, who die yearly from road accidents, which is 200,000 people, are Nigerians.
The President of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, Prince Oluyemisi Adeaga, stated this, yesterday, at the launch of the Safe Steps Road Safety Campaign, aimed at ensuring road safety across Nigeria.
Adeaga noted that road traffic injuries were the ninth leading cause of death globally, claiming the lives of more than two million people each year on the roads according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) Global Status Report 2023.
He quoted WHO as stating that Nigeria accounted for nearly 10 per cent of all road traffic fatalities globally.
“Now this figure accounts for just reported road accidents. Estimates claim road accidents are often underreported in Nigeria, exceeding 500 per cent of the reported numbers.
He said: “The Safe Steps Road Safety Campaign emerges at a critical time when Nigeria grapples with one of the highest road traffic accident rates in the world.
“This worrying statistic highlights the urgent need for comprehensive road safety measures. Recognising this pressing issue, the Nigerian Red Cross Society has partnered with government agencies, law enforcement, transport unions and private sector entities to address the multifaceted challenges of road safety.
“We launched this campaign in December last year, in Abuja. What we seek is a collaborative effort involving key stakeholders such as the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Nigeria Police Force, the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), and the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO).”
The major aim of this campaign is to significantly reduce road traffic accidents and instil responsible driving practices among Nigerians.”
According to Zenith Prudence Foundation representative, Afolabi Lawal, Africa bears the highest yearly road fatality rate globally despite having a small share of the world’s car fleet.
He added that despite efforts from the WHO, the Ministry of Transport (MOT), and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), road traffic deaths remain a critical issue, with 1.35 million fatalities recorded yearly.
