In a bid to curb the rising number of road accidents in Nigeria, the Nigerian Red Cross, in partnership with Prudential Zenith Life Insurance, has launched an initiative to train 10,000 commercial drivers across Lagos State.

Speaking during the launch of the Safe Steps Road Safety Campaign, the General Manager of Resource Mobilization, Nigerian Red Cross, Gbubemi Uba, noted that the project aimed to address reckless driving and improve awareness of road safety rules.

She explained that the initiative will not only train 10,000 drivers but also adopt 2,000 of them as first responders for road crashes.

On her part, Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer for Prudential Zenith Life, Cherise Ige, emphasised the company’s commitment to social responsibility.

Ige stated that the programme targets commercial drivers, particularly those operating damper trucks and taxis, who are often associated with road traffic incidents. By improving driver behavior, the initiative seeks to address the high rate of accidents in Nigeria compared to global averages.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Deputy Director of the RS2 Costain Unit Command, Samuel Imooje, explained that the command would provide education and awareness to all road users, including drivers, passengers.