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Road Traffic Accidents Claim 1.2m Nigerians Annually -FRSC
The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has disclosed that over 1.2million Nigerians die from road accidents annually, overtaking HIV/AIDS, Malaria, among other, as major harbingers of death in Africa’s most populous nation.
Speaking during the 2018 stakeholders’ roundtable with the theme: ‘Drivers’ Health and Road Safety: Taking Goal Zero Outside The Fence,’ organized by the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited in partnership with the Federal Road Safety Commission in Port Harcourt, last Wednesday, the Zonal Commanding Officer, FRSC Zone 6, South-South, Assistant Corps Marshal Kingsley Agomoh also explained that road traffic injuries were among the leading 10 causes of deaths in both ‘lower-middle’ and ‘upper-middle’ income countries.
Agomoh stated that driving a vehicle on the road was an interesting, but complex task with severe safety consequences, particularly because of the huge number of death traps or bad spots on Nigerian roads.
He noted that “Road Traffic Injuries (RTIs) have risen to become a global health problem due to inadequacies in policies and administrations in drivers’ engagements in road transportation activities.
Agomoh said that the problem was universal, but regretted that developing countries, especially in Sub-Sahara Africa were worst hit by the menace.
According to him, “26.6 per cent of road traffic fatality rate per 100,000 human population occurs in Africa”, while “24.1 per cent of global road traffic deaths per 100,000 human population is in Africa”.
Agomoh explained that, “the aggregate impacts of road safety neglects have resulted in huge loses to Nigeria’s economy, amounting to three per cent of annual Gross Domestic Products (GDP) with the effect being more visible as the economy expands”, insisting that “the country’s economy has lost $168,512,146.080 between 1960 and 2007, and $122,771,370.000 between 2007 and 2017,” (approximately N105,182,451,547.315)
He charged the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), and other road transport operators to take ownership of their profession and ensure that they contribute meaningfully to the sustainable development of the nation.
Agomoh further charged the local government authorities and the law enforcement agencies, especially the police to ensure sanity at the various motor parks in the state with a view to ridding the society of illicit drugs and alcoholic drinks, which were the major causes of road accidents.
He further challenged other stakeholders to ensure that the public were enlightened on the best road safety standards and driving behaviours as well as enforce all relevant laws on traffic defaulters.
The FRSC commander said, “Enlightenment without enforcement is entertainment, so, we need to go a step further by ensuring more enforcement in order to save more lives.”
The Rivers Branch Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Mr Ominiayebagha Kalango, said that the union would continue to sanction members found driving under the influence of substances.
Earlier while declaring the workshop open, SPDC’s General Manager, External Relations, Mr Igo Weli, said that the company was particularly worried on the spate of accidents that occur on the nation’s highways on a daily basis.
Weli said, many of the road accidents would have been avoided if drivers have the requisite skills and take seriously the safety of their passengers.
“In SPDC, health safety is a priority, in such that, it comes ahead of production of crude oil and other of our businesses. We believe that health is wealth.
“Today, our focus is on drivers’ health and road safety which is key element to maintaining sanity and reducing accidents on our roads.
“We are passionate about this because drivers move us and millions of Nigerians by road on a daily basis.” he said.
Susan Serekara-Nwikhana
The Mayor of Housing, My-ACE China, has teamed up with a renowned hospital group in Port Harcourt, the Meridian Hospitals, which is in partnership with the Pilgrims Health Foundation, to carry out a one-day medical outreach last Tuesday.
The free treatment scheme took place at Oromenike Government Girls Secondary School in D-Line, Port Harcourt, with over 100 persons accessing free treatments, including free eye-glasses and booking for eye surgeries.
Other areas of treatment included general health consultations and treatment; blood pressure and sugar level testing; malaria testing and treatment; free prescriptions; preventive health talks focusing on hygiene, maternal health, and nutrition.
The scheme was conducted under the theme: ‘Bringing Healthcare to the Community.’
Newsmen who visited the venue of the scheme found that enthusiastic beneficiaries had thronged the area as early as 7a.m. After setting up, the medical team began attending to the patients.
Mr. Jerry Onwuso, a 63-year-old patient, who was first to see eye doctors and got eye glasses and drugs, told newsmen that he was pleased with the medical intervention.
He made it clear he did not pay any money to get all the treatments and glasses, and pleaded that the scheme be sustained.
Another patient, Loveth Sam, expressed satisfaction with the scheme and appealed to the sponsors to continue to increase the benefits.
Throwing some light on the scheme, Mr. China said he worked in Meridian Hospitals as a Lab. Scientist 19 years ago, but resigned because he could not bear to see patients struggling for life because they had no money to pay for treatment.
He said he came back to help extend free medical treatment to the less privileged.
Sources said China was always having issues with the hospital authorities when he would insist on critical patients being allowed to be treated first, with or without money.
Years later, China, who now goes by a brand name, the Mayor of Housing, returned to the Meridian Hospital headquarters to support free medical scheme.
He also went the next day to the headquarters of Meridian, after the one-day medical outreach, to give cash gifts and palliatives to workers he met when he worked there but had remained in service since he left.
He encouraged them to continue to give their all to humanity through the hospital. The Mayor of Housing called most of them by name and a cloud of emotions descended on them during the reunion.
Appreciating the gesture, the Founder and Chief Medical Director, Dr. Iyke Odo, said China had always manifested hard-work, ambition, and impulsive giving.
According to him, the then young bright boy was full of humanity, kindness, love, and made friends easily, adding that “not everybody that gives is a giver. The difference is that givers are given to give.”
Dr. Odo used the opportunity to call on governments to review Nigeria’s health insurance system and make it work in Nigeria to save lives.
He said it was sad watching critically sick persons abandoned because they did not have money for treatment.
He also condemned harsh tax and electricity tariffs whereby facilities like his now pay N12 million instead of N500,000 few years back.
He wondered why hospitals were being made to pay tariffs like oil companies, citing many other countries where medical facilities were placed on low rates and tariffs so they could charge moderate fees from patients.
The Renewed Hope Initiative in conjunction with the Rivers State Government has empowered 500 elderly citizens in Rivers State with financial support of N200,000 each.
The empowerment programme was part of activities to celebrate the third anniversary of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme RHIESS, a social investment policy initiated by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Speaking at the event which held at the Government House, Port Harcourt, recently, under the theme, ‘Finding Joy in Old Age,’ Senator Tinubu said the gesture which has become traditional since 2023 was a mark of gratitude in recognition of the invaluable contributions of the senior citizens to nation building.
The First Lady who was represented by the wife of the Rivers State Governor and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Lady Valerie Fubara, said the scheme was to “support two hundred and fifty (250) vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in all the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory, and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) totalling 9,500 selected beneficiaries across the nation.
She urged the beneficiaries to engage in activities that will make them find joy in old age.
“I encourage you to continue playing your part by staying healthy and active, nurture both your body and mind through regular exercise and meaningful engagement,” Senator Tinubu advised.
On her part, Lady Fubara said the State Government through the magnanimity of the governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has increased the beneficiaries of the programme from 250 to 500.
She restated the commitment of the State Government towards provision of social welfare and improving the standard of living of the elderly in the State.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr Vetty Agala, said the State Government has through the Health4allrivers Initiative, introduced free medical care for senior citizens in the State, in line with the Renewed Hope Initiative.
