By Ibrahim Adebowale
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday declared that the Federal Government is committed to a future where road traffic crashes no longer claim Nigerian lives.
Speaking in Abuja at the opening of the International Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Crash Victims Conference, the President — represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume — said the era of avoidable killings on the nation’s highways “must end.”
The event was organised by the Kwapda Road Safety Demand (KRSD) Foundation in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC). It brought together road-safety advocates, policymakers, development partners, survivors, and families of victims.
Tinubu described road crashes as a national tragedy, citing World Health Organisation (WHO) statistics which show that 1.19 million people die annually from road crashes globally, with 50 million others injured.
According to him, almost every Nigerian has either suffered or knows someone who has suffered from a road crash, noting that thousands continue to live with physical scars and long-term trauma.
“The Federal Government will continue to prioritise initiatives that promote safe motorisation,” Tinubu said, mentioning the Lagos–Calabar coastal highway, ongoing federal road rehabilitation works, and the expansion of rail and water transport systems.
He added that the administration would continue to support state governments in delivering modern highway infrastructure to ensure safer travel nationwide.
Tinubu said the gathering of government officials, civil society groups, private sector stakeholders and survivors underscored a “collective responsibility” to treat road safety as a human-rights issue.
He urged stakeholders to share knowledge, adopt global best practices and scale up collaboration in line with the Safe System approach and the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety.
“Nigeria must move beyond words to decisive action if it must reverse the rising fatalities on its roads. Road traffic deaths have become a national emergency,” he said, adding that the government awaits the conference’s recommendations to further strengthen national policies.
The President also commended plans to establish a private-sector-led world-class trauma centre for crash victims and praised the KRSD Foundation for its commitment to “dignifying a life by saving a life.”
He reaffirmed the government’s resolve to achieve zero road deaths, working closely with the FRSC, NGOs and the private sector to build a safer transport system.
In his remarks, FRSC Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed called for stronger political commitment globally to improving support for road crash victims.
Mohammed described the Abuja conference as “historic,” noting that it is the first of its kind in the world and has attracted international scholars and participants.
He said the collaboration between NGOs and public sector institutions continues to expand the FRSC’s capacity beyond enforcement and enlightenment.
“If discipline, honour, trust and respect for human life are deepened among citizens, you will see the crashes going down,” he said.
Mohammed reaffirmed the Corps’ commitment to ensuring that crash victims receive the attention and support they deserve.
