The Isolo Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Lagos State has called for enhanced support for victims of road traffic crashes (RTCs) and their families as 3,767 people lost their lives, and 22,373 sustained injuries in 7,011 accidents nationwide.
This was made known during the 2024 World Day of Remembrance for RTC victims, held on Sunday at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Okeafa, Lagos.
Uko O. Uko, the Unit Commander of the Isolo Command, advocated for evidence-based measures to prevent road casualties.
Uko said the annual remembrance aligns with the resolutions of the African Union Executive Council and the United Nations.
He urged Nigerians to leverage the FRSC Mobile App, which offers features designed to enhance road safety and assist motorists in emergencies.
On his part, the Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, gave an update on road crash statistics. He revealed that between January and September 2024, 3,767 people lost their lives, and 22,373 sustained injuries in 7,011 RTC cases nationwide.
He noted that the figures reflect the devastating impact of RTCs on Nigeria, particularly given the country’s youthful population.
“On the statistics of RTC, last year, 5,081 people were killed and 31,874 injured in 10, 617 cases and between January and September 2024, 3,767 were killed in 7,011 RTC cases and 22, 373 persons injured.
“The theme for this year’s World Day of Remembrance for RTC Victims is ‘That Day’, and the theme was carefully crafted to tell the stories of That Day when traffic collisions stopped or changed the course of the victim’s lives forever,” Mohammed said
He also highlighted ongoing efforts to enhance road safety, including the adoption of the Safe System Approach and the launch of initiatives like the Nigeria Road Safety Strategy (2021-2030) and the National Crash Reporting Information System (NACRIS).
“The adoption of a Safe System Approach to road safety has led to the development of the Nigeria Road Safety Strategy (NRSS), 2021- 2030.
“The FRSC Mobile App and the National Crash Reporting Information System (NACRIS) was recently launched by FRSC to further engage the motoring public, as well as obtain the single version of truth in crash data reporting,” he quoted the corps marshall saying,” he added.
The Vicar of St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Venerable Emmanuel Umeh, lauded the FRSC’s dedication to safeguarding Nigeria’s roads. He prayed for wisdom and innovative solutions for the agency’s leadership to improve the safety of road users.
A minute of silence was observed in honour of RTC victims, and the FRSC distributed flyers with road safety messages to the congregation. Special Marshals, the volunteer arm of the FRSC, were also present to support the event.
The FRSC reiterated its commitment to reducing RTCs through public engagement, data-driven strategies, and continued advocacy for safer roads.