President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday says the Federal Government is committed to a future where Road Traffic Crashes (RTCs), no longer claim lives.
Tinubu made the declaration at the opening ceremony of the International Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Crash Victims Conference in Abuja.
The President, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen. George Akume, said the era of preventable deaths on the nation’s highways must end.
He said the conference’s theme, “Gathering Africa and the World for Road Crash Victims,” reflected a shared resolve to address what he described as an “epidemic” of road crashes affecting families and communities nationwide.
The Kwapda Road Safety Demand (KRSD) and Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) jointly organized the conference which brought together families of victims, safety advocates, policymakers and development partners.
Citing statistics from the World Health Organisation (WHO), Tinubu said about 1.19 million people die annually from RTCs globally, while another 50 million sustain various degrees of injuries.
Tinubu said almost every Nigerian has either suffered or knows someone who has suffered from a road crash, adding that many victims live with permanent scars and long-term trauma.
He said his administration would continue to prioritise initiatives that promote safe motorisation, including the ongoing Lagos–Calabar coastal road project and several rehabilitation works being undertaken across the country.
In his remarks, the FRSC Corps Marshal, Malam Shehu Mohammed called for increased global political commitment to improving support for road traffic crash victims.
Mohammed described the event as a memorable and momentous occasion, noting that it demonstrated the impact of effective collaboration between NGOs and public sector institutions.
According to him, the conference is the first of its kind globally, attracting international scholars and participants to Abuja.
“A development that has underscores the commitment of member nations to supporting crash victims,” he said.
Mohammed expressed optimism that outcomes from the conference would spur more nations and leaders to strengthen political will, attention and action towards road safety.
