NIGERIA: The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said 91 persons were killed in just three ghastly road accidents in just last week.
FRSC Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed, who made the revelation at a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, said 48 lives were lost in Niger State on September 8, 18 in Sabon Wuse on September 12, and 25 in Kaduna State on September 15.
He expressed concern about the avoidable loss of lives, stating that all three crashes were avoidable.
Mohammed criticized reckless driving despite the government’s efforts to improve transport infrastructure and called for stronger traffic law enforcement.
He said FRSC officers are to patrol around the clock, announcing a special nationwide operation.
The FRSC boss said the meeting targeted addressing road safety challenges like carrying flammable materials, night driving, speeding, and overloading and hoped these efforts would reduce accidents by the end of the year.
Chief Buruche Julius, representing the Luxurious Buses Association, explained that buses prefer night travel due to lighter traffic, making the journey faster and safer. He claimed that night trips rarely result in accidents, and that drivers receive safety training.
Alh. Abubakar Maigandi Shettima, President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), noted that tanker drivers are regularly reminded not to drive at night and are being continually educated on road safety.
He identified bad road conditions as a cause of accidents but assured that efforts are being made to prevent crashes.
