Prof. Sydney Ibeanusi, Focal Person of the UN Decade of Action on Road Safety and Traffic Injury, (UNDARSIP), Nigeria, has reaffirmed commitment to road safety.
Ibeanusi said this at the 2024 World Day of Remembrance (WDR) for Road Traffic Crashes (RTCs) victims organised by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Monday in Abuja.
He said that in spite of a modest downward trend in global road crashes, more measures were needed to reduce fatalities and injuries.
The focal person called for more action to reduce fatalities and injuries nationwide.
He also said that the 5th UN Global Road Safety Status Report (GRSSR) indicated a decline in road crashes worldwide and in Nigeria, adding that achieving significant reductions required increased efforts.
He stressed the importance of recognising the tireless work of road safety professionals, emergency responders, and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in preventing and responding to road crashes.
“The recent published statistics by the 5th UN GRSSR indicates a modest downward trend in the road crashes across the globe. Even in Nigeria, there has been a reduction in the numbers of RTC.
“More action is still required for significant reduction in the number of crashes and more importantly on the number of fatalities and severely injured which is the target of the 2nd Decade of Action on Road Safety,”he said.
Ibeanusi said that the theme for the year 2024 event: “That Day, Remember Support and Act” was not only concise but far reaching.
He said that it also served as a reminder of the devastating impact of road crashes on families and communities while emphasising the need for prompt response to save lives and advocacy for policy changes to prioritise road safety.
“It reminds us of that day when our beloved ones, bread winners, children, brothers and sisters, left home to their various place of work but never to return again as a result of Road crash.
“It reminds us of the things we should do and those we have left undone to ensure such incidents are prevented or reduced to barest minimum.
“It reminds us for the need to act promptly when such incidents occur as a good number of lives can be saved from prompt and early post crash response.
“It reminds us that it is a strong advocacy tool to engage policy makers to do the needful on Road Safety, “he said.
The UN focal person however, advocated for more funding resources and investments on Road Safety.
Ibeanusi said it was necessary to prioritise road Safety as a tool for economic growth and development because of the enormous losses from the unquantifiable number of persons and properties lost on the roads.
“As we remember the victims of RTCs both the dead, injured and the families whose lives and livelihood have been altered for good, we must also remember to celebrate the great works of men and women who work tirelessly to ensure the roads and vehicles remain safe.
“We also appreciate the members of emergency scheme who respond to rescue and treat these victims to ensure that the consequences of the crashes remain minimal.
“Let us also remember the voices of the CSOs which if properly utilised, serves as a strong tool to remind the government of things they should do, “he said.
Earlier, the Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Malam Shehu Mohammed reaffirmed the commitment of the Corps to zero percentage of RTCs nationwide.
Mohammed said that the Corps was already achieving to the barest minimum, road accidents on the Nigeria highways.
He said that the corps would continue to support global efforts working with the government leading to zero percent deaths and injuries nationwide.
“We are committed to zero percent RTCs. We will continue to work in line with the global best practices to ensure that crashes were reduced to the barest minimum in Nigeria, “he said.
In his goodwill message, Prof. Yusuf Suberu, Representative of NGOs and CSOs, United Nations Decade of Action on Injury Prevention, Nigeria said that one of the major causes of Road Traffic Crashes (RTCs) remained speed.
Suberu said that crashes was inevitable adding that when it happened, everyone should see how they could support as road safety was a collective responsibility.
He also said that there was need for continuous advocacy for best driving practices in Nigeria to ensure that RTCs were reduced to the barest minimum.
“This is a global issue and one of the major causes of road accident is speed but in technical terms you can say it is human factor.
“As non state actors, we are always advocating and drawing financial and legislative support to see that laws are enacted to give the FRSC enabling ground to operate.
“As you can see, FRSC is not neglected in Nigeria and even school children are getting involved.
“Stakeholders at all levels are also committed and they are here to add their voices to ensure that road safety is very much aware by the people, community, and the nation at large.
“We will not relent until we achieve the zero percentage of road accident on the Nigeria roads, “he said