Road Accidents : UN Envoy Decries Loss Of 1.2m Lives Annually

The United Nations Special Envoy For Road Safety, Mr Jean Todt has called for collective efforts to end loss of more than 1.2 million lives annually to road accidents worldwide .

The United Nations Special Envoy who expressed concerns over the alarming statistics of road accidents when he paid a visit to the Federal Road Safety Corps headquarters in Abuja said millions more are suffering life changing injuries from the Carnage on the roads.

He emphasized the urgent need to entrench the safe system approach which priorities education, strict enforcement of traffic laws and effective Post-crash care stressing that non adherence to traffic regulations remains a major contributor to avoidable deaths and injuries.

Mr. Jean Todt commended the Corps Marshal of FRSC, Mallam Shehu Mohammed’s proactive participation in global road safety engagements, describing Nigeria’s role as a positive step towards the realisation of the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety.

While commending the FRSC for its consistent efforts and strategic achievements in road safety management, the Special Envoy insisted that more still needs to be done to consolidate the gains recorded so far.

He urged stakeholders at all levels, from policymakers and transport unions to individual road users, to rise to the occasion and contribute to ending the needless carnage on roads.

The Corps Marshal, Mallam Shehu Mohammed while receiving the United Nations Special Envoy assured that FRSC remains resolute in driving Nigeria’s road safety agenda in line with global standards, while intensifying collaboration with both local and international partners to achieve safer roads for all.

Mallam Shehu Mohammed reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to reducing the scourge of road traffic deaths and injuries.

He commended the robust support from the federal government, which enabled the corps to achieve remarkable milestones in its over three decades of existence.

Kayode Oyedare, Edited By Grace Namiji