18 November 2009
interview
Abuja — Recent statistics released by the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) on road accidents in the country call for sober reflection, as well as the urgent need for the authorities to take drastic measure to curb the trend.
It also calls for renewed caution by road users, particularly now that we entered the so-called Ember months when travelling for festivities is on the increase.
According to the figures released last week, about 20,000 lives were lost to road accidents between 2006 and 2008. Most troubling is the record of 4,438 deaths in ten months (January -October, 2009) in 9,070 road accidents. Also, 22, 653 of the victims recorded various degree of injuries in the accidents, which involved 11, 928 vehicles within the period. This shows that, unless corrective measures are taken, the nation would likely be losing close to 30,000 lives to road accidents by the year end. The nation cannot afford that mindless carnage. Reasons identified for the rise in accidents include bad road network, over-speeding, bad vehicle maintenance and spare parts, reckless driving and the unwillingness of motorists, including law enforcement agents, to abide by traffic rules, among other things.
Over the years, Nigerian highways have become death-traps due to lack of maintenance, resulting to frequent accidents by motorists. Though the federal government has consistently been announcing the award of contracts for road projects across the country, little results have manifested; and where such roads are built, the quality of work has been questioned due to the high level corruption that permeate the process. Similarly, the establishment of the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has not helped matters. The agency was either starved of funds or the little provided was misappropriated or misapplied by those entrusted with the responsibility. The situation is not different at the state and local government levels, as governors and local council chairmen have little concern for road projects. This has negative effects on the socio-economic development of the country, which include increase in crime. Armed robbers usually station themselves at strategic potholed and bumpy parts of the highway to keep track of vehicles without much difficulty. At the grassroots level, it is difficult for the peasant farmers to transport their produce to the cities. Similarly, sick persons find it difficult to get to referral hospitals in time for medical attention when the need arise. Perhaps, the nonchalant attitude of Nigerians to quickly respond and assist accident victims may be another contributory factor to the rising death rates. Victims of road accidents are usually at the mercy of passersby, who usually do not have the knowledge of first aid treatment, and at the end, victims are left unattended, often leading to death. The loss to the nation as a result of all these is incalculable.
It is against this backdrop that we call on government at all levels to be serious in the campaign for rehabilitation of existing roads and construction of new ones across the country. The desire by the federal government to also revive the rail and water transport systems that have collapsed over the years must be taken seriously; while state governments should open up rural areas to ease transportation. Similarly, in order to curb accidents on our highways, there is need for the establishment of mobile courts to try reckless drivers. Also, government should consider the establishment of a Federal Highways clinics to provide prompt First Aid for such victims before their admission in hospitals for proper medication. Non governmental organisations should also take up this civic challenge.
The FRSC should intensify action and be firm in enforcing law and order on our highways. Notwithstanding the fact that the commission has been up and doing since it was established, it has more challenges ahead, given the ever-increasing influx of vehicles on our roads. The commission should buckle-up and enforce the law on government officials and law enforcement personnel who derive pleasure in violating traffic laws, unmindful of other road users. This is common with convoys of state functionaries that always speed recklessly blowing siren on our highways with reckless abandon, and terrorising other road users .The commission should intensify its public enlightenment campaign and rallies nationwide as well as regularly monitor the highways, particularly now that the nation is in the festive season of Sallah, Christmas and New Year.
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