Index to Nigerian Newspapers

No fewer than 4,387 persons have been killed in road crashes across the country from January 1 to June 30 this year. An independent finding by Daily Trust from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) revealed that in the first quarter (Q1) of the year, 1,080 people died in the 2,056 crashes recorded. Of the 13,415 people involved in the road crashes, 6,803 were injured while 5,879 persons were rescued without injuries. However, in the second quarter of the year, the number of accidents rose to 2,635 while people involved in road crashes increased to 16,354, out of which 8,919 were rescued without injuries. The number of deaths also rose with 3,307 losing their lives while 7,305 were injured.

Also speaking, the Organising Secretary of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), FCT chapter, Mr Lawrence Fadipe, said the accident and fatality figures from the FRSC were not exclusive to commercial transporters. He said the reports obtained from their members indicated that they recorded fewer accidents. “The figures released by the FRSC are not for NURTW members alone but also include private vehicle owners and road users. Fadipe, however, said that bad roads and the rainy season could be the reason for the increase in accidents on the roads.