Follow Us on Google
From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
Former Governor of Edo State Senator Adams Oshiomhole has blamed the majority of road crashes in the country on the recklessness of Very Important Persons (VIPs).
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior, who blamed the “big-man syndrome” for the crashes, lamented that many of them go without attendant consequences, urging “big men” to lead by example.
Comrade Oshiomhole spoke at the International Road Crash Victims Africa Conference held at the Body of Benchers in Abuja on Tuesday.
While delivering a keynote address, Senator Oshiomhole noted that the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) must be more meticulous in prosecuting traffic offenders regardless of their status.
Appealing to VIPs to lead by example, he said: “We, the leaders, must lead by example. FRSC, police, and other road regulatory authorities should have the courage to prosecute offenders. Enforce the laws.” He equally called on relevant bodies to prosecute offenders over the misuse of sirens in the country. “Please, make an example that no one is above the law,” the former Edo Governor said.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of the KRSD Trauma Centre at Kabusa in Abuja as part of his administration’s plan to prioritise health and have safer roads in the country.
Represented at the event by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, President Tinubu announced that the initiative is supported wholeheartedly by this government.
“I commend Hon. Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, CFR, for this initiative. It is worthy of emulation. We need to take decisive action against road crashes. Government cannot do it alone. We embrace and urge greater private participation. One of the reasons we’re expanding our highways and building the Coastal Road,” he said.
In her comments, the President of the Court of Appeal, who doubles as the founder of KRSD, Monica Dongban-Mensem, disclosed that the foundation was established in 2011 after losing her son in a crash, promising that the initiative will also amplify advocacy.
Other News
In a voice laden with grief and emotion, she narrated how her son died, vowing that she would continue to speak about the incident.
“We have trained about 100 drivers. We do enlightenment through sports by using golf, cycling, and walking,” she said, calling on African leaders “to take road safety issues to a higher level by enacting laws that are enforceable.”
The KRSD Trauma Centre, though a private initiative, is in conjunction with the FRSC for victims and families of road crashes, as Nigeria battles one of the highest road traffic death rates in Africa.
This year’s conference, with the theme “Gathering the World in Africa for Road Crash Victims”, focuses on Nigeria as one with the highest death rates in Africa.
In his goodwill message, Shehu Mohammed, FRSC Corps Marshal, said the trauma centre will provide medical and psychosocial support while serving as a national model for post-crash care.
He noted that road crashes cause about 1.2 million deaths globally each year, with women and children disproportionately affected.
Former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, in his goodwill message, reeled out the statistics of road crashes in the country with Kaduna recording the highest death rates of 575, closely followed by Niger with 478, Jigawa 409, Ogun 368, and Oyo with 328 in the last one year.
According to him: “Abuja-Kaduna Expressway is having the deadliest rate of casualties with 328, followed by Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.”
The event attracted a host of eminent Nigerians, diplomats, ambassadors, and several speakers across Africa, with Aliko Dangote slated to lay the foundation of the Trauma Centre.
