By Laleye Dipo in Minna
The Federal Road Safety Corps on Tuesday disclosed that not less than 516 road crashes were recorded in Niger State in 2017, accidents that resulted in 197 deaths.
The crashes occurred mostly on the Kaduna- Abuja dual carriage way, the Jebba-Mokwa- Bida road and the Mokwa-Tegina-Birnin Gwari road.
Disclosing this while addressing a press conference in Minna Niger state as part of activities marking the 2018 World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Crash Victims the Sector Commander Mr. Joel Dagwa said the accidents “left in their wake trauma, economic dislocation and psychological disturbances”.
Mr. Dagwa said “the statistics given seems to be mere figures to most people” but added that “this attitude is manifested in the conduct of some road users who erroneously believe that they are immune to road traffic crash hence they behave any how on the road
“The World Remembrance Day for Road Traffic Victims is to awaken the consciousness of those of us that are alive to the effect of RTC and to the fact that it is preventable and avoidable.”
The 2018 celebration has as its theme “Roads Have Stories.”
The Sector Commander therefore appealed to “all road users to appreciate the gravity attached to using the road” adding that “they should endeavour to observe all the rules guiding their conduct while on the road, from vehicle maintenance to driving skills to sharing the road with others, including animals, and to their mental and psychological balance”.
The celebration would also involve visits to crash victims in hospitals, engagements with various transport unions, advocacy visits to schools and prayers in churches and mosques.
