Road Accident: Nigeria Records World’s Highest, Red Cross Reveals
The Red Cross has reported that Nigeria faces one of the highest rates of road traffic accidents in the world, with approximately 10 percent of the two million global fatalities from road accidents—around 200,000 people—being Nigerians.
This information was shared by Prince Oluyemisi Adeaga, President of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, during the launch of the Safe Steps Road Safety Campaign, which aims to enhance road safety throughout Nigeria.
Adeaga pointed out that globally, road traffic injuries rank as the ninth leading cause of death, resulting in over two million fatalities each year, as per the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Status Report 2023. He cited WHO findings indicating that nearly 10 percent of all road traffic deaths worldwide occur in Nigeria.
He also mentioned that this statistic only reflects reported accidents, as estimates suggest that actual road incident numbers in Nigeria could be more than five times the reported figures.
“This Safe Steps Road Safety Campaign is launched at an urgent time, highlighting the significant road safety issues Nigeria is facing,” he stated. Recognizing the severity of the problem, the Nigerian Red Cross Society is collaborating with government bodies, law enforcement agencies, transport unions, and private sector partners to tackle the complex challenges associated with road safety.
The campaign, initiated in December of the previous year in Abuja, aims to involve key stakeholders like the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Nigeria Police Force, the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), and the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO).
The main goal of this initiative is to drastically decrease road traffic accidents and promote responsible driving behaviors among Nigerians.
A representative from the Zenith Prudence Foundation, Afolabi Lawal, noted that Africa has the highest annual road fatality rate globally, even though it has a limited proportion of the world’s vehicles. He highlighted that, despite efforts from the WHO, the Ministry of Transport (MOT), and the FRSC, the issue of road traffic deaths remains severe, with 1.35 million fatalities reported each year.
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