Worries voiced by the World Health Organisation on Nigeria’s traffic accident rate

Concerningly, at 21.4 deaths per 100,000 population, Nigeria has one of the highest rates in Africa for road crash-related fatalities, according to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Status Report on Road Safety 2023.

At a news conference in Abuja, Justice Monica Dongban Mensem, founder of Kwapda’as Road Safety Demand (KRSD), argued that the nation should do something about it, citing the findings.

To further empower victims and families affected by road traffic crashes, Mensem also declared her intention to hold the inaugural International Road Crash Victims Africa Conference (IRCVAC) in November.

According to the World Health Organization’s Global Status Report on Road Safety 2023, Nigeria has one of the highest rates of road traffic fatalities in Africa, at 21.4 deaths per 100,000 people.

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This is more than simply numbers; it’s a devastating reality for thousands of families annually. She asserted that the figure is far greater than the averages for both the world and Africa.

The Corps will increase its efforts to decrease road crashes, according to Shehu Mohammed, Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

He said that the FRSC and the organisation had partnered to open trauma facilities nationwide for victims in an effort to save lives.

The foundation of the FRSC and its much-touted efforts to end the rising tide of road accidents has not alleviated the concerns of Nigerians, who perceive the problem getting worse every year.

The question of what causes road accidents has been revisited by the World Health Organization’s report.

There are many who hold the government’s inability to construct and maintain roads responsible, while others point the finger at the casual attitude of some drivers, citing examples such as reckless driving and a lack of emphasis on vehicle upkeep. Those who hold this view believe that poor road conditions are the primary cause of accidents.

However, there are many who think that human, vehicle, and road elements all play a role.

According to Mr. Pius Akwashiki, an award-winning luxury driver with one of Nigeria’s top transport companies who has been driving for over 20 years (including in some West African countries) and who has provided insights into the causes of the seemingly endless road deaths in Nigeria, the three main factors are road conditions, vehicle conditions, and human factors.

Pavement quality

While other factors do play a role in vehicle accidents, Akwashiki found that in Nigeria, poor road conditions were a significant one.

The roads are horrible, he said, regardless of whether you’re travelling north or south.

For example, the Lagos–Benin–Ore Road has been a daily accident hotspot for more than 15 years. According to him, almost 40% of the country’s annual accidents occur on the road alone.

He bemoaned the fact that major routes are occasionally adorned with potholes that reach depths of three feet, a reflection of how terrible the roads nationwide are.

According to Akwashiki, many accidents occur when vehicles careen into these potholes, and when this happens, the number of casualties is consistently large and the severity of the injuries is typically devastating.

We often pass old, dilapidated cars that people have left on our roads. The majority of the time, they lead to accidents because they create obstacles.

The police utilise old tyres and wooden things as roadblocks on our highways, adding to the hazards already present due to abandoned rickety automobiles and potholes.

He made the observation that although many cars flip over potholes, others collide with other cars as they swerve to escape them.

According to him, one additional noteworthy aspect is that the majority of the nation’s highways do not have any kind of road signage. “For non-locals, it becomes very challenging to navigate any of our roads without first receiving instruction on the ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’ of each section,” he continued.

Status of the vehicle

He made the comment that the majority of cars in Nigeria were not getting routine maintenance when discussing their condition.

He went on to say that not even authorised Manufacturer Service Agents or those with access to the manufacturer’s service manuals service the vehicles when the owners request it.

Therefore, a lot of guesswork goes into car repairs.

Licensed representatives of the manufacturer also fail to consistently provide usable components. Unfortunately, these imitation components often fail in the most unexpected ways. He argued that accidents can sometimes be caused by unanticipated parts breakdowns.

“The absence of a skilled workforce also makes the workmanship of the maintenance engineers in Nigeria operate at standards way below the standards in the advanced countries of the world.” This shows that he also remembered the importance of skilled car mechanics.

Individual consideration

The government and certain of its agencies are also part of the varied group discussing human factors, he said, in addition to car owners. Nonetheless, he did point out that it is a big reason why there is constant road rage.

When asked about the failure of various entities to fulfil their responsibilities in reducing road accidents, he stated: “When we talk about the human factor, it is all encompassing.” This includes the government and its agencies such as the FRSC, Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS), and the Ministry of Transport, as well as drivers and corporate bodies.

He said that there should be immediate investigation into the significant problems caused by the ease with which driver’s licenses are obtained in Nigeria.

“As long as they have the cash, even people who don’t know much about driving can receive the licence at the licensing office. Whether or not the individual has driving skills is irrelevant; what matters is that they can pay the kickback.

The number of accidents on our roads has gone up as a result of this, as inept drivers are now more commonly seen on major roadways.

“The majority of drivers are clueless when it comes to road signs, and those who do know often disregard them. He claimed that the most common reason for accidents is that drivers ignore traffic warnings and overtake on corners.

When asked about the driving habits of most Nigerians, he said, “When something goes wrong with one vehicle in the convoy, it causes major problems because many people tailgate at high speeds.”

Tragically, he said, “and the vehicles are commonly used well in excess of the design load capacity” and that drivers never respect speed restrictions. This makes it hard for anyone driving these vehicles to keep them under control when it counts.

“Due to exhaustion, some drivers even drink and drive or even sleep on the wheel.”

According to an investigation conducted by the DAILY POST, it has come to light that certain Nigerian transport companies have a practice of compensating its drivers according to the number of journeys they accomplished daily between Onitsha or Benin and Lagos.

Researchers found that drivers commonly use the term “Pay as you go” to describe this method.

Because most drivers would attempt to go on as many trips as possible to earn more money, forgetting that their systems have limits to how long they can go without resting, this system is unhealthy and contributes to high highway carnage, according to Akwashiki, who agreed with this finding.

Another common human error is drivers talking on the phone or answering the phone while behind the wheel. Many accidents have resulted from this since drivers often lose focus due to being either too excited or too discouraged by the other person’s words.

“Sadly, this always leads to tragic accidents that take lives and cause serious injuries,” he continued.

New research has shown that used tires, sometimes known as “tokunbo tyres,” are a major factor in traffic accidents.

Tyre vendor Chief James Chukwuebuka of Lagos’s Maza-Maza area spoke out on the matter, saying that Nigerian car owners, especially those who purchase old or moderately used tires, fail to consider the tyres’ lifespan.

“The average life span of a new tyre is four years but you discovered that most fairly used tyres are way up to 10 years,” he stated.

He made the observation that even brand-new tires can explode after being in storage for over four years after creation.

Throughout these incidents, however, Akwashiki continued to place the responsibility on the government for the country’s poor road infrastructure, rather than the FRSC.

According to him, the lack of data on drivers with more than two incidents on the road ensures that the number of accidents would rise.

According to him, when careless drivers cause car accidents, the natural response from transportation corporations is to fire them.

After that, he’ll call a different transport service, which won’t know about his record, to schedule a ride.

After being dismissed due to an accident, he decides to try his luck at a different company.

“The journey goes on and he persists in endangering lives on the highway,” he continued.

He proposed that in order to discourage other transport businesses from hiring them, the FRSC compile data on these drivers and have their identities published in national dailies.

Addressing concerns

When asked about a potential remedy to the constant road deaths, Akwashiki said that the Ministry of Transport, the VIO, and the FRSC should all step up to the plate.

He spoke out against the practice of issuing driver’s licenses to inexperienced individuals based only on their ability to pay.

He made the point that the FRSC should acquire current equipment to help them detect intoxicated drivers so that all road safety laws could be enforced.

In addition, the government should fulfil its duty by making sure that important routes are free of potholes.

It is imperative that the VIO officials refrain from accepting bribes and ensure that cars deemed unfit for road use are appropriately labelled as “off road.”

To further reduce road carnage in Nigeria, Akwashiki proposed that the FRSC establish a database of all drivers with two or three incidents under their belts and publicise their names in national newspapers. This would discourage other transportation owners from hiring these drivers.