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| Cross River Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corp Chidiebere B. Nkwonta Esq |
15 November 2019
CALABAR —According to crash analysis there is recorded increase in automobile-related crashes and death toll in Cross River for the first half of the year 2019 in comparison with the year 2018 within the same period. Again, over five thousand Nigerians are said to have lost their lives to autocrash for the year 2018 NEGROIDHAVEN can say authoritatively.
According to the Sector Head of Operations of the Federal Road Safety Corp in Cross River Sector Command DCC Samuel S. Oyedeji the information has it that, ‘in Cross River State, the crashes analysis for the first half of 2019, that is, between January and June when compared with the figure of 2018 shows a 139.8% increase in the number of people involved in road traffic crashes and 78.9% increase in the number people killed. This figure is really scary and may increase if adequate measures are not put in place to reduce this trend.
Continuing he said, ‘It’s no longer news that road traffic crashes has consumed more lives than even the world’s deadliest disease. Research has shown that a sizeable percentage of these death and injuries occur in low and middle income countries such as Nigeria with adults of productive age-bracket mostly affected.
‘A total number of 5,181 Nigerians lost their lives in road traffic crashes in the year 2018: the crashes includes 2,739 fatal cases, 5489 serious cases and 1,153 minor cases’, Oyedeji disclosed in his welcome address to the public on the occasion of the 2019 Ember Months Campaign Rally Flag Off Rally which held today in Calabar, Cross River capital city.
In the keynote address, the Sector Commander of the Road Safety Corps in the state, Chidiebere B. Nkwonta Esq observed that there was more crashes and death in 2019 than there was in 2018 notwithstanding increased efforts by his command to reverse the ugly trend. He attributed the unfortunate development to poor road infrastructure in the state. He suggested collaboration between the FRSC and sister agencies including road transport union while not excluding other stakeholders.
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| Prof Ivara Ejemot Esu flagging off 2019 Ember Months Campaign/Mega Rally |
His words, ‘Sadly however, available crash statistics has shown that there is increase in the total number of road crashes that occurred in Cross River State in the year 2019 as compared to the corresponding period of 2018. In other words, we recorded more crashes in Cross River State and more death than we did in the corresponding period of last year.
‘This is despite the additional deployment, more men, more logistics, and more enlightenment. So, it seems like a myth. We are wondering what must have caused this. This has however been linked to the deteriorating state of our roads and increased vehicular population coupled with the abusive use of the roads by our roads by road users.
‘Notwithstanding, this is not a pleasurable trend. There is therefore a clarion call for all hands to be on deck before road safety can actually begin with you.
‘Based on the foregoing, I call on all and sundry to support this worthy cause. The task of keeping death off our road is a worthy one. And as such we must all be ready to commit our time, energy and resources to complement the efforts of the regular and special marshalls.
‘Going forward, there is need for an increased synergy between the Federal Road Safety Corp and sister agencies and transport unions. And also a mass mobilisation of all stakeholders for an improved road safety advocacy within this period.
The event which was organised by the Cross River Sector Command of the FRSC on Thursday and Themed: ‘Road Safety is presence of mind, road traffic crash is absence of mind. Stay alive, stay alert’, was flag off by His Excellency the Executive Governor of Cross River State, Sen. Prof. Benedict Ayade who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Prof Ivara Ejemot Esu. Esu advised that ‘our drivers should avoid for this period and indeed for the rest of their driving careers, excessive speeding, making calls while driving, overloading, no use of seat belts, driving under the influence of alcohol and dangerous overtaking and drivers fatigue etc’.
Present at the occasion were service chiefs of the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corp, Nigerian Correctional Service, and the Ndidem of Qua.
