By Nura Ajingi
Kano Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps, (FRSC) on Tuesday said road traffic crashes in nigeria claims more lives than terrorist and bandit attacks.
The Sector Commander of the Corps, Umar Masa’udu Matazu stated this during a courtesy visit to the new leadership of the Kano State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalist, (NUJ).
Matazu cited instance with number of persons killed by road traffic crashes from October till date and number of persons killed as a result of banditry and terrorist attacks.
The Sector Commander however appealed to the media practitioners to help the command by creating more awareness and enlightenment to the road users on the need to imbibe better road use culture and shun violation of road traffic regulations.
According to him, “the number of people that are killed through road traffic crashes are more than number killed by killer diseases or killed by terrorists, Boko Haram, kidnappers, bandits. There is no way you have an attack killing more than 10 people but in a traffic crash you have more than 40 people killed. If you look at records of road crashes recorded between October till date you will know that number of persons killed by road traffic crash is more.
“Journalists are the best friend of road safety in Nigeria because it is through you that our messages can reach the people in nooks and crannies. You have been doing this but like oliver twist, we request for more support so that you help us create more awareness and enlightenment on better road use culture.
“It has come to our knowledge that most of the problem we have here is illiteracy, because it is not obtainable in other climes where a person will accept to be kept in the booth of car along side animals. So we need you to help us create more awareness and enlightenment because if our people become informed, violation of road traffic regulations will be avoided. We have also introduced programmes for the passengers to speak up where the drivers are driving recklessly because where there are accidents it is mostly the passengers that lost their lives.
“The authorities realize the traditional public enlightenment campaign at the motor parks are becoming not effective, so we have devise a means of organizing a town hall meeting of all stakeholders,” the corp’s sector commander, Matazu said.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Kano NUJ Council, Comrade Suleiman Abdullahi Dederi represented by his Vice Chairman, Mustapha Gambo Muhammad assured the Sector Commander of the council’s readiness to accord the command necessary support as a partner in progress.
He commended the command for the cordial relationship the duo enjoyed for a long time.
