By Daniel Tyokua
The Coalition of Road Safety NGOs in Nigeria (CORSAN) has sought stringent measures against acts that lead to road crashes across the country.
Briefing Journalists in Abuja, yesterday vice president of the coalition, Dr Yusuf Suberu said cases of road crashes were alarming and needed to be taken more serious by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other stakeholders.
He explained that as part of activities to herald activities lined up by the CSOs to mark 2021 World day of remembrance for road crashes victim, the group would intensify advocacy towards reduction of speed on the high ways.
“It is worrisome that road traffic injuries cause considerable economic losses to individuals, families, and the country as a whole.
“The losses arise from the cost of treatment as well as lost of productivity for those killed or disabled by their injuries, and for family members who need to take time off work or school to care for the injured. Road crashes cost most countries some considerable percentage of their gross domestic product”
Suberu revealed that statistics from National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) shows that in the first half of 2021, about 5,320 road crashes and 2,471 deaths nationwide were recorded and this could have been avoided if there had been road officials to administer stringent law on the road irrespective of the location.
“This is the first time that the coalition of the Road Safety NGOs in Nigeria will be organizing this important unified event as directed by the United Nations after identifying with them” he said.
The vice president pledged his group support to work closely with all road officials in the country to curb the crashes.
He said saving lives by improving road safety is one of the objectives of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals.
End.
