Nig To Host 1st International Road Crash Victims Africa Conference

As part of efforts to address the increased number of road accidents claiming annually over 1.2 million lives globally, Nigeria is to host the first International Road Crash Victims Africa Conference.

The Conference will bring together experts, technocrats, and policy makers on ways to address the menace and assist victims as well as the families of those who lost their lives in the crashes.

Addressing news men ahead of the event in Abuja, Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps FRSC, Mallam Shehu Mohammed said the conference among other things would lead to the establishment of a World Class Trauma Center to enhance Quick response to emergencies in any part of the country.

Mallam Shehu Mohammed noted that previous global road accidents and crash injury conferences focused on high – income countries with no or little attention given to victims of road accidents.

He believes that the outcome of the international event would assist other African countries in checking the increasing rate of road accidents, killing young and productive Africans.

The FRSC Boss stressed that the Corps would continue to collaborate with Non Governmental Organizations with initiatives towards improving driving culture among road users in the country.

Also speaking, President of the Court of Appeal and Founder Road Safety Demand (KRSD), Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem said the conference with the theme : Gathering Africa and the World for Road Crash Victims would provide a veritable platform to assist and bring succour to victims of road accidents.

According to her, Nigeria still needs a strong national strategy to address critical risk factors such as speeding, drunk driving, use of phones while driving, and non-use of sealt belts

“Fathers, mothers, children, workers, breadwinners lives cut short or changed forever. For every fatality, there are families left in grief, survivors with economic and social loss. ”

The President Court of Appeal further stressed that with the collaboration with FRSC and other critical stakeholders, Nigeria will contribute immensely to the Global Agenda of Vision Zero and the Safe Systems Approach which States that no death on our roads is acceptable.

Kayode Oyedare, Edited By Grace Namiji