The United Nations, in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), has unveiled the #MakeASafetyStatement campaign to address Nigeria’s rising rate of fatal road crashes.
Jean Todt, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety, speaking at a news conference in Lagos on Friday, stressed that road safety was a shared responsibility, calling for safer driving habits and everyday vigilance.
The initiative, first introduced at the UN General Assembly on Global Road Safety in 2022, has since reached over 40 countries, with plans to expand to 80 countries and 1,000 cities by 2026.
Todt described road crashes as “a silent pandemic”, noting that Africa was the epicentre, with more than 250,000 deaths annually — nearly one-quarter of global fatalities.
“Nigeria alone records almost 37,000 road deaths each year, averaging 100 lives lost daily. Crashes are now the second leading cause of death among teenagers and young adults in the country,” he said.
He commended Nigeria’s road safety strategy but urged full nationwide implementation, warning that road crashes cost nations up to five per cent of GDP, while safe mobility fosters growth and healthier living.
FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said Nigeria had adopted the UN Decade of Action and designed the Nigeria Road Safety Strategy anchored on five pillars: safer speeds, safer roads, safer vehicles, safer users, and stronger post-crash care.
He urged motorists to obey traffic laws, shun overloading, avoid excessive speed and drunk driving, and always use seatbelts and helmets. According to him, behavioural changes could reduce road crashes by 50 per cent by 2030.
Abimbola Ijaniyi, Sales Manager at JCDecaux, reaffirmed the company’s backing for the campaign, noting that sustainable media initiatives had already spread messages to millions across 50 countries in 30 languages.
She said the awareness drive, which features global celebrities such as Naomi Campbell, Novak Djokovic and Didier Drogba, would continue to promote responsible driving practices, including observing speed limits, wearing helmets and respecting traffic rules.
(NAN)
