The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has announced a noteworthy 53 percent decrease in the total number of fatalities resulting from road traffic crashes during the 2023 Eid-El-Kabir festivities compared to the corresponding period last year.
Speaking in Abuja, Bisi Kazeem, the corp’s public education officer, credited the decline to the corps’ comprehensive nationwide special patrol operations conducted from June 26 to July 1, 2023.
Additionally, the FRSC reported a 25 percent reduction in the overall number of Road Traffic Crashes (RTC) and a substantial 43 percent decrease in the number of injuries among the 522 individuals involved in these incidents.
Kazeem attributed these encouraging statistics to the corps’ revamped operational strategies aimed at fostering a safer motoring environment in Nigeria.
“During the six-day special patrol operation, we recorded a total of 88 RTCs, reflecting a 25 percent decrease from the 118 incidents reported during the same period in 2022. Similarly, the number of fatalities decreased from 88 to 38, signifying an impressive 53 percent decline. Moreover, there was a significant drop in the number of injured individuals, with 211 reported in 2023 compared to 373 in 2022, representing a 43 percent decrease,” Kazeem revealed.
In addition to the decline in casualties, the FRSC successfully rescued 273 individuals without injuries during the 2023 period, surpassing the figure of 347 in the corresponding period of the previous year.
Kazeem highlighted that the Corps apprehended 4,116 traffic offenders for committing 4,682 offenses across 2,053 routes under their jurisdiction.
“The notable reduction in road traffic crashes during the 2023 celebration period can be attributed to improved and revamped patrol operations, robust public enlightenment campaigns, increased deployment of operational vehicles for enhanced visibility, prompt rescue services, and strengthened collaboration with stakeholders.
“Furthermore, our expanded presence across the national road network, including the establishment of additional FRSC commands, outposts, roadside clinics, and Zebra points, has contributed to this achievement,” Kazeem explained.
The FRSC official emphasized that the positive changes were also a result of heightened public enlightenment, stricter enforcement of traffic regulations, increased stakeholder cooperation, and the automation of the drivers’ licence acquisition process.
In response to the report on the special patrol operations, Dauda Biu, the FRSC corps marshal, expressed his satisfaction with the recorded successes and affirmed the Corps’ commitment to maintaining the momentum in order to enhance road safety nationwide.
Biu urged the motoring public to adhere to disciplined and safe road practices and to cooperate with FRSC personnel and other traffic law enforcement agencies while travelling on the highways.
