Recent road traffic accidents statistics showed that 5,320 road crashes and 2,471 deaths occurred in the first half of 2021 nationwide.
In Bauchi, more than 40 people died in ghastly motor accidents in December alone. Last week, four corps members died in an accident after leaving the orientation camp from Taraba to Yobe State.
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Again, 13 people died on Christmas day in two separate motor accidents along the Lagos-Ibadan and Sagamu-Benin expressway. Hardly one reads newspapers or watches TV, without coming across reports of motor accidents. It is obvious things are getting worst every day.
But who is to blame for these frequent accidents that are becoming a new normal in the country? Over speeding, overloading, unnecessary overtaking and failure to check vehicle conditions are some of the major factors causing accidents in Nigeria.
Officials of various traffic control agencies make matters worse as they collect bribes to let off traffic law violators.
There is also the issue of bad roads. Many of our highways are in a bad shape, filled with potholes.
As the way out, every Nigerian is duty-bound to contribute towards reducing road accidents.
Drivers should at all times check their vehicles, avoid overspeeding, overloading and unnecessary overtaking.
Road safety and other traffic personnel should discharge their duties effectively without fear or favour. Anybody that violates traffic rules must be sanctioned regardless of his status so as to serve as a deterrent to others.
The Federal Road Maintenance Agency should redouble its efforts in repairing roads. Lastly, federal and state governments should construct more roads, expand narrow ones and dualise the existing highways to tackle the menace of road accidents in Nigeria.
Abdulrahman Salihu, Department of Mass Communication, Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic, Bauchi
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