Abuja, 19 March, 2021 - To launch the sixth UN Global Road Safety Week in Abuja, road safety stakeholders called for downward review of current speed limit from 50km/hour to 30km/hour in cities and areas where pedestrians and cyclist mix with traffic. 

This call which  aligns with the theme for this year’s commemoration; “Managing speed” with slogan “Street for Life” and hashtag (#love 30),  was given on 17 May 2021 as the federal government in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and related agencies joined the global community to celebrate the annual UN National road safety week (17 -23 May, 2021).

Speed is a leading risk factor for road traffic deaths and injuries. Evidence shows that lowering speed limits in urban areas reduces the risk of fatalities and keeps vulnerable road users safe, including pedestrians, cyclists, children, elders and people with disabilities. 

Addressing journalists and stakeholders at the launch of the week, the Permanent Secretary, General Service Office, Dr Nnamdi Maurice Mbaeri said the increasing rate of fatalities and disabilities from road traffic accidents in Nigeria has become a cause of concern to all stakeholders.  He called for urgent intervention from the government, policymakers, law enforcement agencies and road users at large.   

Dr Mbaeri, who represented the Secretary General of the Federation, said “a holistic approach in road safety management is needful to reduce the numbers of fatalities on the Nigeria road. Road traffic injuries are the 8th leading cause of death worldwide and is now the number one cause of death among children and young adults aged 5-29 years old. “

Dr Mbaeri further observed that, “…Reducing the fatalities from road accidents requires a multidisciplinary approach to tackle the menace. Therefore, commemoration of the UN week is an apt opportunity to educate people on the need for safety on the roads by bringing together all stakeholders to point out the importance of reducing speed and saving lives. He also pledged Nigeria’s support towards actualizing the goals of the Global Plans for the Decade of Action for Road safety 2021 -2030. 

In Nigeria, statistics from FRSC for 2020 indicates that 5, 574 people were killed from road traffic accidents. Of which, 58% was attributed to over speeding out of the 16 other risk factors.  

Accidents having an indirect impact on the wellbeing of the nation, the Minister for State for Health, Dr Olorunnimbe Mamora said with the daily rise in  car crashes, it has become imperative for drastic measures to be taken to reduce the ugly trend.

Dr Mamora said the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) is poised to launch the National Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) to enable Nigerians call for help in emergency situations as road traffic accidents.

“The aim is to reduce the number of deaths caused by the delay in access to healthcare services. This will provide prompt and efficient emergency medical services to the people, not just for road traffic accidents, but services will involve “prompt response to medical distress calls of all types with first responders, transfer to facilities, (and) assured first aid at the point of care at no immediate user cost, he added.

Meanwhile, his counterpart, the Transportation Minister, Ms Gbemisola Saraki in her address said the objectives of the week is garner commitment at national, state and local level across all sectors to advocate for the implementation of speed limits in urban areas to 30 km/h.

Commending Nigeria and all stakeholders under the UN Decade of Action on Road Safety and Injury Prevention (UNDARSIP) for facilitating a strong multi-sectoral collaboration between different ministries and sectors, the WHO Nigeria Country Representative (WR), Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo expressed his delight in being part of the 6th United Nations Global Road Safety Week.

Presenting the message of WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti during the presser, Dr Mulombo said the week is aimed at reminding government and stakeholders that, “In order to achieve our goal of halving deaths from road traffic, urgent action by all of us is very key.”

He said evidence shows that lowering speed limits in urban areas reduces the risk of fatalities and keeps vulnerable road users safe, including pedestrians, cyclists, children, elders and people with disabilities.  

“We must therefore, all rise to the occasion to achieve this feat come 2030. WHO on its part, will continue to support the country’s continued concerted and drastic actions towards achieving this ambitious target”, he added.

The Road Safety Week has been set aside by the UN in the month of May to raise awareness on the need to act responsibly on the road.  

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