Road accidents in Nigeria

Accident is inevitable and ubiquitous and people traveling almost every day, road accidents are no more news because of their frequency. The damage on our roads has become worrisome to the citizenry. One now wonders why what ought to benefit us is causing untimely loss of many lives and property.Many motorists are illiterates, they are […]

Accident is inevitable and ubiquitous and people traveling almost every day, road accidents are no more news because of their frequency. The damage on our roads has become worrisome to the citizenry. One now wonders why what ought to benefit us is causing untimely loss of many lives and property.
Many motorists are illiterates, they are unable to read and write therefore, this causes a lot of mishap. This explains why unnecessary overtaking at bends, zebra crossing etc happens.
The problem is further compounded by absence of road signs which cannot be easily understood by this group of drivers. Another cause of road accidents is drug abuse; motorists are often intoxicated with alcohol or hard drugs before driving and sometime during night journeys. The lack of proper training among the motorists, speeding, lack of infrastructure particularly good roads and poorly maintained or rickety vehicles also contribute to road accidents.
In the developed world roads are regularly maintained but the reverse is the case in Nigeria, infact, some portions of our express roads are often swept away by erosion yet, these portions are left unattended until an accident occurs. Potholes are so numerous that we take them as part of our roads.
According to the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) there are 3,247 reported road accidents across the country in 2013.
The solution to the problem must be collective rather than being put on the government alone. The licensing authority should ensure that before a drivers’ license is issued, the applicant must be taught all road signs and symbols and one must show evidence of understanding them. Hawking of drugs and local gin in and around motor parks must be banned. It is not enough to legislate against its sale, but the law must be enforced.
Government on its part should maintain our roads, FRSC and vehicle inspection officers should be drafted to patrol our roads and toll gates must be reintroduced on major roads with a view to using the proceeds for the repair of roads. It is significant that traffic offenders are penalised. It is also precise for the government to establish more driving schools in 774 local government areas within the country and provide professional staff that will train the motorists in order to acquire good knowledge of driving.
Abdullahi Ayuba Dalwa writes from the  Department of Mass Communication, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri