Stakeholders on road safety, security and development sectors have expressed worry over incessant fatal crashes involving tanker and trailer vehicles across the country.
The stakeholders also decried the decay in the road transport system, including compromise of standards by driving schools.
They made the observation in separate presentations at a roundtable organised by Road Safety Stakeholders and Humanitarian Forum of Nigeria.
Dr Yusuf Suberu, the coordinator of the forum, said the transport system has decayed over the years, leading to high rate of compromise in the operations of driving schools and the process for issuance of driver’s license.
This, he said, was largely responsible for low quality of drivers and the attendant increase in traffic rules violations and accidents.
According to him, most vehicles on Nigerian roads are not certified roadworthy but are being used to commute everywhere, thereby endangering lives and properties.
“It is pertinent to note that there is also a high level of compromise in apprehending traffic offenders which has led to dangerous excesses by the drivers.
“The outcome of this meeting would lead to the adoption of sector-based strategies to address the hydra-headed challenges of road traffic crashes, injuries and deaths in Nigeria,” he said.
Suberu said that the outcome would serve as roadmap to accomplish the set goals of the Decade of Action for 2024.
Also, the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, Mr Haruna Garba said that no fewer than 4,387 persons had died in road crashes in the country in the first six months of 2023.
Garba, represented by ACP Habib Rabiu, gave the figure while discussing pre and post-crash issues in Nigeria.
He said that some of the key challenges in the pre-crash phase included reckless driving, inadequate road infrastructure, and vehicle maintenance issues.
He also said that some of the challenges faced in the aftermath of road accidents included delays in emergency response, inadequate medical facilities, and legal complexities.
According to him, it is imperative to take stock of the current state of affairs on the roads in order to find solutions.
“In the past year alone, Nigeria has witnessed a significant rise in road accidents. Some of these accidents result from reckless driving, speeding, and non-compliance with traffic regulations.
“This has left many injured and in some cases, fatalities are being recorded. According to the Federal Road Safety Commission, (FRSC) 4,387 Persons died in road accidents in the first half of 2023.
“This brings us to a 26 per cent increase from 2022, and 14,108 injuries were also recorded while 15,789 persons were rescued unhurt during the period.
“However, some of these accidents could have simply been avoided,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has identified speeding, fatigue and night travel as major causes of road traffic crashes across the country.
The Corps Marshal, Dauda Ali-Biu, also said carelessness and recklessness of drivers also contribute to the crashes and fatalities being recorded on Nigerian roads.
Ali-Biu, represented by ACM Operations, Mr Jonas Agwu, called for caution as the yuletide season commence.
He said that the corps had deployed personnel and logistics to highways across the country to ensure safer roads during and after the yuletide.
Other stakeholders at the event included Civil Defense personnel, Vehicle Inspection Officers, Dangote Group, National Union of Road Transport Workers, among others.
