News
Road Accidents Cause 10% Global Deaths
Worried by the alarming statistics of deaths by road traffic accidents, the management of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) has called for concerted efforts of all stakeholders to check the ugly tide, and save generations of Nigerians and other citizens of the world from premature deaths.
Managing Director of SPDC, Mr Mutiu Sunmonu, who said this at the Niger Delta road safety risk management workshop, organised for 100 personnel of FRSC, police, state road management officers and NSCDC, from Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Imo and Abia, by Shell in Port Harcourt, pointed out that road traffic injuries were the leading causes of death globally, adding that road accidents are the 10th leading cause of all deaths and 9th leading contributor to the burden of disease.
Sunmonu stressed that “even with only 48 per cent of the world’s registered vehicles, over 90 per cent of these fatalities occur in low and middle-income countries, including Nigeria.
Represented by the Asset Manager, Land East, Chidube Nnene-Anochie, the Shell managing director noted that it was because of the global and massive scale of the issue that the United Nations declared 2011-2020, a “decade of action for road safety”, with a goal to stabilise and reduce global road deaths by 2020.
He stated that effective road safety management was crucial to preventing crashes and saving the lives of millions of people, and stressed that to achieve this, capacity building of road safety risk management practitioners was key.
In his remarks, Africa Regional Coordinator, Global Road Safety Partnership, Dr Pieter Venter, regretted the rising deaths associated with road accidents in spite of efforts by corporate bodies and some governments to ensure compliance to road safety rules and regulations, and pledged the preparedness of his organisation to up awareness on the menace as a veritable means of reducing carnages and saving lives.
Speaking, Zonal Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Assistant Corps Marshal Chike Nwaka, noted that even as high as the statistics are, the number of figures on road traffic accidents in Nigeria was incorrect as a whole gamut of cases are neither reported to the police nor the FRSC, and attributed the high incidence of road traffic accidents to poor vehicle maintenance culture, poor state of roads, low level of literacy, and most importantly, the human factor, among others.
While commending the Rivers State Government for embarking on the reconstruction and expansion of most roads as well as provision of directional signs to aid safety observance and compliance, Nwaka thanked Shell for initiating the training programme for core road safety risk practitioners in the region, and pledged the readi
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
