In the wake of the incessant road traffic accidents recorded across the country, proactive efforts have to be made to safeguard the lives of road users, especially during this festive season, writes ELAIGWU AMEH.

Nigeria is undoubtedly rich in human and mineral resources yet a number of its roads are in a deplorable state. To say that most roads in the country are in a horrendous state is an understatement. The countless potholes and irritating detours that decorate the roads are the architects of a myriad of accidents often registered on the roads.


Most of the high ways across the country have gradually metamorphosed into deathtraps for many travelers. The high rate of road traffic accidents recorded during festive seasons testifies to this unfortunate metamorphosis.

However, road accidents are not an exclusively Nigerian phenomenon, as they are apparent across the globe and constitute a serious challenge to public health. It is estimated that 1.2 million people perish in road accidents on an annual basis around the globe, while at least 50 million people suffer injuries resulting from such accidents.


If the number of road fatalities is appalling, then the World Health Organisation report that this number is likely to increase should be even more appalling. Although many road accidents are avoidable, recalcitrant acts of negligence, recklessness and misdemeanors have ensured a steady increase, instead of decline, in the rate of road accidents.

Pertinently, the burnt wreckage littering some federal roads in the country does not only remind us of the government's aloofness from the plight of its citizens but also serve as a memoriam for many families that have lost their loved ones on the roads. The trauma, discomfort and disaster recorded on many roads in the country pronounce a vote of no confidence on the government, as they portray it not to have any modicum of concern for the welfare of its citizenry.


The traffic congestion occasioned by multiple accidents along the country's major highways, especially during festive seasons, is another infuriating situation that road users often face. Several precious hours that could have been ploughed into productive service of humanity and the nation are frequently being wasted on our roads because of the traffic congestion and despicable potholes.

It would be inappropriate to assert that efforts have not been made to study and understand the nature of road accidents in the country, with a view to providing veritable and effective information for relevant stakeholders to employ in securing our roads and checkmating the incessant road accidents.
As a study conducted by Afamdi Ezenwa, Department of Community Health, College of Medical Sciences, University of Benin, reveals: "there has been increasing trends in the case fatality rates, injury and the rates per 100,000 population. There have also been easing trends in the severity of the accidents." From 1974-1983, "the number of accidents increased by 10.4%, injured cases increased by 43%, cases of deaths increased by 110.6%, total casualties increased by 57.1% and human population increased by 27.2%," Ezenwa noted.

"The mortality pattern showed that for every five fatal accident victims one subsequent death occurred outside the accident scene. The majority of the accident victims in Nigeria are young adults of the age group 22 to 30 years and about 75% of the accident victims are males," he further stated. On the causes of most road accidents in the country, Ezenwa offered: "Unsafe acts (reckless and dangerous driving, driving without licence, excess speed, alcoholism, faulty pedestrian attitude, etc.) constitute the major causes of RTAs in Nigeria. Other contributory factors include unsafe driving conditions such as road and vehicle defects."

It is hard to believe that Nigeria, with its terrible record of road disrepair and catastrophe, has agencies such as the Ministry of Works, Ministry of Transportation, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO), among others. This is not, however, stating that the agencies are not active at all. What is being implied is the need for reinvigoration in the discharge of their duties.


Statistics from the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in Benue State depict a reduction in the number of fatal accidents in the state from 197 recorded in 2007 to approximately 185 recorded from January to date. Such a reduction cannot be isolated from the efforts of the road safety personnel in the state. According to Sobowale Oke, the state sector commander, the reduction should be attributed not only to the enlightenment campaigns held across the state, but also to the establishment of mobile courts on major highways in the state.


With the rampant deterioration of roads, coupled with the high accident cases, across the country, one is also forced to question the seriousness and quality of the stakeholders charged with the responsibility of constructing and maintaining roads across the country.

It is one thing to construct roads, and it is quite another to equip the roads with potent drainage facilities. The constant flooding of several roads across the federation during rainy season exposes the engineering fraud that is the bane of road construction in Nigeria today. The poor drainage system does not only engender flooding of roads but also sets the tune for erosion, which gradually transfigures the roads into graves for unsuspecting motorists.
Also, the dysfunctional streetlights on many roads make them attractive hideouts for daredevil criminals, who hide under the cover of darkness to pounce on their preys. The presence of police officers along some of the roads does not even contribute positively to the roads' safety.

The deployment of police officers to ensure safety as well as safeguard the lives of motorists seems to be counterproductive, as the police officers themselves, seem to be worsening the nightmare of road users. The countless unwarranted checkpoints on the roads, which should be better regarded as pay points, is not only embarrassing to the nation but also adds to traffic congestion as well as glorifies the twin evil of bribery and extortion.
Maintenance culture in Nigeria is fast eroding, with more efforts channeled towards the replacement of the old with the new. This sad scenario has now turned many Nigerian roads into an adventure unto themselves.

If the inaugural promise of the Yar'Adua administration is to be trusted, then road construction and rehabilitation should have been in top gear by now. However, the lingering disrepair and carnage on most of our roads give the citizenry the room to doubt the fidelity of the administration to its promises. Dignitaries in the present administration have, on different strategic occasions, decried the deterioration of roads in the country, but it seems the citizenry have only been treated to amazing talk shows and emotional dramas, leaving nothing concrete to be expected.

Successive governments have decried the sorry state of the roads and have repeatedly pledged to fix the problem. They have also allocated billions of naira for the project, but the road situation in Nigeria, if it has changed, has only become worse. The seeming indifference of the current administration to the prosecution of those entrusted with the large allocations for road refurbishment and construction leaves many thinking whether any other allocations for the road project would not frizzle away just like those in the past.


A people-oriented government will not allow its populace to suffer unwarranted bloodshed and discomfort on the roads. The government has to do more than just awarding contracts. Concerted efforts should also be made to ensure the implementation of every detail of the contracts, ranging from the duration of the project to the quality of the materials to be used.

http://www.businessdayonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2080:counting-the-cost-of-bad-roads-to-lives-and-nigerias-economy&catid=94:features&Itemid=282

Kobojunkie:

"there has been increasing trends in the case fatality rates, injury and the rates per 100,000 population. There have also been easing trends in the severity of the accidents." From 1974-1983, "the number of accidents increased by 10.4%, injured cases increased by 43%, cases of deaths increased by 110.6%, total casualties increased by 57.1% and human population increased by 27.2%," Ezenwa noted.

This is horrendous, What's this? Is Nigeria the capital of Hell? Is CCTV what we need? Is satellite what we need?

This is not rocket science. Fix the damn roads,

Jesus f***ing Christ, I'm losing it!!!!

B.O.S.S.:

This is horrendous, What's this? Is Nigeria the capital of Hell? Is CCTV what we need? Is satellite what we need?

This is not rocket science. Fix the damn roads,

Jesus f***ing Christ, I'm losing it!!!!

Though the onus falls on the states to fix their roads, your anger should perhaps be directed to the federal government which is in charge of roads between states, etc, hence the use of the term federal roads. Those are the roads whereby most of these accidents occur, case in point is the deservedly infamous lagos-benin highway (and we haven't even started talking security). A budget was passed last year, right? The budget had in it money allocated to infrastructure - roads, right? What was it used for?

Sky Blue:

Though the onus falls on the states to fix their roads, your anger should perhaps be directed to the federal government which is in charge of roads between states, etc, hence the use of the term federal roads. Those are the roads whereby most of these accidents occur, case in point is the deservedly infamous lagos-benin highway (and we haven't even started talking security). A budget was passed last year, right? The budget had in it money allocated to infrastructure - roads, right? What was it used for?

Boils down to corruption again. Why are our leaders not accountable. Why's a Nigerian life soooo cheap? Regardless of Federal or State road, why can't we hold these lot responsible? Imagine the article said that the cases of death increased by over 110%, that's more than double for God sake.

How fair is that?

Just the right topic to get me all worked up.
Nigeria roads? Please don't go there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's not a sight to behold, a death trap deliberately set up
to cause pains, death to the masses.

I weep for Nigeria.

its not just the roads. nigerians driving habits helps act as a catalyst to what the bad roads are capable of doing.