By Our Correspondent
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says 3,700 people lost their lives in road accidents in the country between January and October.
The Acting Corps Marshal FRSC, Dauda Biu, announced the figures at the joint news briefing to commemorate the 2022 Africa Road Safety and World day of remembrance for Road Traffic Crash victims on Tuesday in Abuja.
Biu said that the commemoration gave credence to the ever-growing need to galvanise stakeholders from all sectors of the economy towards engendering higher road safety standards.
This is with a view to putting to an end, all incidences that gave momentum to Road Traffic Crashes (RTCs) and injuries.
He added that the menace had become a huge threat to human existence that must be stemmed by all means available.
“I say this because of the negative impact of RTCs in the country, particularly the attendant loss of lives and damage to properties.
“For instance, from January to October 2022 alone, no fewer than 3,700 persons were killed by RTCs.
“These are human beings, not just numbers representing inanimate creatures.
“These are fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, sons and daughters and of course breadwinners whose lives have been cut short by the actions and in-actions of road users who have refused to comply with established traffic regulations,” he said.
The Corps Marshal said that the theme of the year 2022 commemoration speaks volumes of the readiness and also the resolve on the part of stakeholders to reawaken the consciousness towards joining forces with the corps to bring the menace to a complete halt in Nigeria.
The FRSC boss gave assurance that the corps would continue to show commitment to duty to ensure absolute sanity on the highways.
This, he said, would be through effective and efficient traffic law enforcement, massive public enlightenment campaigns and advocacy.
Biu also said that the commission would thoroughly investigate the causes of crashes as a springboard, which was not only for effective formulation and implementation of policies that would prevent road crashes.
According to him, it is also to ensure criminal prosecution where appropriate compensation is given to victims and their relations as part of the renewed justice system.
“This justice system is expected among others to deter road traffic violators and also bring succour to road crash victims and their families whom the recklessness of traffic violations has kept in pitiable and sorrowful living conditions.
“Expectedly, I make bold to say and I strongly believe that this year’s theme, would usher in an era of speedy dispensation of justice for crash victims and their families, coming at a time when judiciary in Nigeria has shown commitment to the enhancement of adjudication in RTCs,” he said.
He urged road users to always comply with traffic rules and regulations for a safer motoring environment saying that the FRSC firmly believed that a crash-free society was possible only if the right thing was done.
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