Nigeria records 9,227 deaths, down 8% as FRSC increases patrols
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
A total 9,227 deaths were tallied in 19,787 road traffic crashes (RTCs) in the past two years, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) acting Corps Marshal Dauda Biu has disclosed.
He listed 10,304 crashes across Nigeria in 2021 and 9,483 in 2022, a decrease of 8 per cent.
“Out of the recorded crashes, the corps successfully brought down the rate of fatalities as we also recorded eight per cent in the number of people that were killed.
“For instance, our records shows that between January and December 2021, a total of 4,800 people were killed while on the other hand, a total of 4,427 people were killed in 2022,” Biu explained in Abuja.
He said there would be traffic counts in the ongoing FRSC patrols nationwide there would be traffic counts to enable it have a proper understanding of the inflow and outflow of traffic on specific routes and times during the Yuletide.
“These would also facilitate better planning against similar operation in the future,” he added, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
The FRSC has deployed 36,224 personnel and 1,226 patrol logistics to ease vehicular movement countrywide during the end of year festivities.
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Patrol of major corridors
Biu disclosed part the overall strategy of the FRSC is the deployment of patrol teams on major corridors and traffic gridlock prone areas, per reporting by The Nation.
He said this would ensure FRSC personnel are seen within every 10 kilometres drive on both sides of the road in those areas for enhanced visibility.
“These areas include but not limited to the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano route, Nyanya-Maraba-Jeffi-Akwanga routes as well as Lugbe-Giri-Gwagwalada-Abaji-Lokoja route.
“The Corps is convinced that we can achieve even greater result by further bringing down the curve of crashes on our roads.
“This is possible and indeed realisable because the corps has confidence in the disposition, crop and quality of its personnel.
“These include the logistics that have been deployed to ensure the safety of travellers during the end of the year Yuletide season.”