Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and Nigerian Red Cross have declared a state of emergency on traffic accidents nationwide.
While expressing concern over the number of deaths caused by road crashes, the organizations said they would work towards meeting United Nations (UN) Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030 resolution target.
The UN plan aims to prevent at least 50 percent of road traffic deaths and injuries by 2030.
They made the pledge at the launch, induction, and training program for pre and pro-crash initiatives for the road transport sector organized by RTEAN for its members in Abuja, yesterday.
According to data released by FRSC this month (May), over 40,000 people die yearly as a result of road crashes in the country.
Also, about 1.3 million people were killed, and as many as 50 million people get injured each year globally.
Speaking at the event, the President of RTEAN, Musa Maitakobi, stressed the need to enhance and improve response time in any emergency situation on the road.
Maitakobi, who was represented by his deputy, Muhammad Bushara, said members of RTEAN would be massively trained in collaboration with the Nigerian Red Cross officials to efficiently handle emergency situations at the point of the accident before moving to the hospital to save lives.
Noting that Mobile Emergency First Aid Clinics will be provided on roads, the RTEAN’s boss explained that road accident victims would also be assisted to receive first aid treatment from the point of accident by RTEAN trained members.
He stated: “For the success of this program, we intend to embark on public enlightenment, as this is the first time any association or union in the transport sector is initiating a program that involves lives in collaboration with other professionals and experts in the field.
“It is also our belief that, with time, more persons will be trained (as we embark on training the trainers), and the issue of travelers dying before they could get to the hospital will be minimized. And with the support from relevant government agencies and organizations, we shall succeed and the roads will be made death free for Nigerians.”
Source: The Guardian
