As part of efforts to reduce road accidents, the Nigerian Red Cross Society and Zenith Prudential Life Insurance Plc, have launched a Safe Steps Road Safety Campaign, aimed at transforming road safety across Nigeria.
Speaking at the event, the President, Nigerian Red Cross Society, Prince Oluyemisi Adeaga, said road traffic injuries are the ninth leading cause of death globally, claiming the lives of more than two million people each year on the roads from World Health Organisation (WHO) Global Status Report 2023. He added that WHO further noted that Nigeria accounts for nearly 10 per cent of all road traffic fatalities globally.
“Now this figure accounts for just reported road accidents. Estimates claim road accidents are often underreported in Nigeria-exceeding 500 per cent of the reported numbers.
“The Safe Steps Road Safety Campaign emerges at a critical time when Nigeria grapples with one of the highest road traffic accident rates in the world. This worrying statistic highlights the urgent need for comprehensive road safety measures. Recognizing this pressing issue, the Nigerian Red Cross Society has partnered with government agencies, law enforcement, transport unions, and private sector entities to address the multifaceted challenges of road safety.
“We launched this campaign in December last year, in Abuja. Basically, what we seek is a collaborative effort involving key stakeholders such as the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Nigeria Police Force, the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), and the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO).
The major aim of this campaign is to significantly reduce road traffic accidents and instill responsible driving practices among Nigerians.
“Since 2001, the Red Cross Societies across the globe have collaborated on road safety campaigning with a focus on promoting road safety awareness, first aid skills, and good road safety practices.”
Adeaga noted that the issue of road safety is not just the responsibility of the authorities; it is a collective effort that requires active participation from every road user. “It is too important to be left to the authorities, be they FRSC, LASTMA, VIO, NURTW, or the NRCS. Road safety is a crucial topic that hinges on our collective safety.”
Prudential Foundation, Afolabi Lawal, stated that Africa bears the highest annual road fatality rate globally despite having a small share of the world’s car fleet. Despite efforts from the World Health Organization (WHO), the Ministry of Transport (MOT), and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), road traffic deaths remain a critical issue, with 1.35 million fatalities recorded annually.
Lawal further said that Prudence Foundation, the community investment arm of Prudential, in collaboration with Prudential Zenith Life Insurance and the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS), is spearheading the Safe Steps Road Safety Campaign.
“This initiative aims to enhance road safety awareness and equip communities with life-saving skills. Through education, advocacy, and hands-on training, the campaign is committed to reducing preventable road accidents in Lagos and beyond.”
