Leadership (Abuja)
Adesuwa Tsan and Muh'd Zangina Kura
12 November 2009
Dutse — Due to road accidents, Nigeria has lost 19, 507 citizens across the country. These statistics were revealed by Hon. Patrick Ikhariale while moving a debate on the need to establish a Federal Highways Medical Services Agency and make comprehensive provisions for the establishment of sick bays during yesterday's plenary session in the House of Representatives.
According to Ikhariale, the "appalling" statistics were obtained from the Federal Road Safety Commission. Relying on the document, he informed his colleagues that in 2007, a total of 22, 467 road accidents were recorded, out of which 4, 673 people died. In 2008, road accidents recorded on the highways were 34, 641, while 6, 661 people died out of the number.
The lawmaker added, "As we speak, 19, 360 accidents have been recorded in 2009.
"There are quite a number that may not have been reported. It means that the number of losses in accidents is enormous.
"Victims of road accidents are usually at the mercy of passersby, who usually do not have the knowledge of hospitals, and what then happens is that the victims bleed to death."
He said the establishment of a Federal Highways Medical Services Agency would reduce casualties of road accidents since 70-80 percent of the victims would have survived if they had access to "quick medical attention."
The bill was referred to the Committee on Health for further legislative action.
Similarly, the Federal Road Safety Commission has urged state governors to assist the commission to address the menace of unnecessary road crashes, which has become a daily happening across the country.
The Zonal Commandant in charge of Kaduna Zone, Alhaji Aminu Abubakar, made the call while speaking at the 2009 Federal Road Safety Ember Months campaign titled "Operation Zero Tolerance on Road Crashes," held in Dutse.
He said the governors should assist the command to curb rampant road accidents through the renovation of roads and establishing committees at the state level to regulate over-loading at various motor parks in their states.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Jigawa State Sector Commandant, Mr. John Bekinbo Mueix, had urged motorists to strictly adhere to the road traffic rules to avoid unnecessary accidents, especially during the Sallah, Christmas and New Year celebrations.
He said the campaign launched by the commandant was aimed at drawing the attention of motorists to take extra-caution in the forthcoming ember months, during which the roads become busier.
The commandant explained that zero tolerance for road crashes is precisely referring to the checkmating of the havoc of overload, drunk driving, overspeeding and reckless driving.
He commended the Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, for the support he gives to the command, especially on checkmating overload and related violations of road traffic rules.
"The mass renovation and construction of the roads across the state has significantly assisted in curbing the rampant accidents across the state," he said.
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