As Nigerians continue to watch helplessly on human carnage being recorded on daily basis continue to contribute to the country’s low life expectancy of average of 46 years, the Jonathan Administration is being placed under
watch o see if it would do anything special to improve the conditions of available roads and enforce traffic laws.
Much of what has been called Nigeria’s mortality statistics sometimes overlook the obvious relative contribution arising from road fatalities. Nigerian citizens expect collaboration between Transport and Works Ministries at the state and federal levels of administration in Nigeria to have more roads running parallel to each other to criss-cross the country as well as introduce enforceable traffic codes and administrative personnel that care about reducing the number of deaths.
White people manufacture good and serviceable vehicles, but our people die by them in the millions because we do not handle motor vehicles the way manufacturers and users in Europe and America do. We run on four wheels as if there is no thought about other life priorities. Our policemen and soldiers are usually drunk as sponge even by 6am. There is no way they can be expected to enforce laws on driving under influence against transport workers or private owners who always are out drunk. Road safety officials do not make prospective driving licenses to go through comprehensive tests. Experts now fear that unnecessary crave for materialism and silly desire to own personal cars make everyone to care less that several of the drivers on Nigerian roads are do not have fully functional eyes. The mind-boggling reports of the number of citizens who die daily on the roads would likely continue to grow, as the culture of corruption and mediocrity continues to influence most our transport and road use policies.
Last week, statistics showed that more than 26 people were killed in two accidents in Yobe State while 16 were injured in two accidents on the Potiskum-Maiduguri and Potiskum-Fika Road in the last two weeks. And as we now know, there is too much illicit drugs in Nigeria. The devils who parade as drivers do not have clear minds.
The Sector Commandant, Mr Stephen Maituzumah, said in Damaturu that the accidents occurred between Oct. 2 and Thursday.
He said on Oct. 2, 14 people died in a ghastly motor accident involving an articulated vehicle with registration number LA 345 SG and a Toyota Carina with registration number YB 764 GSH.
Four persons were also injured in the incident which occurred at Sabon-Gari Bukar village on the Potiskum-Damaturu road.
Maitaizuma said 10 persons were also killed in another accident at Nahunta village on Thursday on the Potiskum-Fika road.
The incident involved the collision of an articulated vehicle with registration number XA477FKY, a Toyota car marked FXB485KTG and a 504 Peugeot Station Wagon with registration number AT 644NSR.
“ We have received report of another accident at Bamairi Village on Damaturu- Gashua road on Friday, but no death was recorded,’’ he said.
Maitaizuma lamented the increasing rate of accidents on the Potiskum –Damaturu road, saying it was due to reckless over taking and over speeding on the highway now under construction.
To reduce the rate of accidents, he said the command embarked on enlightenment of motorists, especially drivers of commercial vehicles.
“ We met with transport workers, VIO and the police in order to assist in enforcing traffic rules,’’ he added.
He also said the command had introduced special patrol on the high ways to curb over speeding and reckless over- taking, adding that some offenders had already been arrested.
The FRSC boss identified lack of patrol vehicles, communications gadgets and office accommodation as factors militating against effective operations in the command.
The commander urged local government councils to support the activities of road marshals in the council areas.