No fewer than 55,015 people have died in road crashes across Nigeria in the past ten years, according to data from the Federal Road Safety Corps.
The statistics, covering 2015 to 2024, also reveal that 108,369 road accidents occurred during the period.
A breakdown of the data shows that in 2015, 5,440 fatalities were recorded, while 2016 saw a slight decrease to 5,053 deaths. The figures fluctuated in subsequent years, with 5,121 deaths in 2017, 5,181 in 2018, and 5,483 in 2019.
In 2020, road crash fatalities rose to 5,574 and continued to increase in 2021 (6,205) and 2022 (6,456), marking the highest number of deaths in a single year within the decade. However, the figure declined to 5,081 in 2023 before slightly rising again to 5,421 in 2024.
The FRSC report also detailed the number of crashes recorded annually. The lowest figures were documented in 2017, with 9,383 accidents, while the highest was in 2022, with 13,656 incidents. The numbers dropped in the last two years, with 10,617 crashes in 2023 and 9,570 in 2024.
Speaking on the issue, FRSC spokesperson Olusegun Ogungbemide highlighted measures taken to improve road safety, including the enforcement of speed limiters for commercial vehicles.
“The introduction of speed limiters has played a key role in reducing accidents caused by excessive speeding. Available data shows a decline in highway fatalities following this enforcement,” he stated.
He further explained that the FRSC conducts free safety checks and vehicle inspections to identify and rectify common issues such as brake failures and faulty lighting systems.
“We visit motor parks and collaborate with transport unions to educate commercial drivers on road safety. Despite these efforts, some drivers remain defiant, repeatedly violating established laws,” Ogungbemide added.
The FRSC reiterated its commitment to ensuring safer roads and urged all road users, particularly commercial drivers, to comply with traffic regulations to prevent avoidable crashes.
