Senator George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), has described the deaths of 2,776 people and injuries to 16,309 others in road traffic accidents from January to July 2024 as unacceptable.
During the launch of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Mobile App and the National Crash Reporting Information System (NACRIS) in Abuja on Thursday, Akume highlighted the severity of the situation. He noted that in the previous year, 5,081 lives were lost, and 31,874 individuals were injured in road traffic incidents.
Akume emphasized that the new app aims to increase awareness and educate both drivers and passengers about the factors leading to road traffic accidents. He expressed hope that the app would enhance emergency reporting, identify hazardous road spots, provide eyewitness accounts, monitor speeding, and notify users about the expiration of vehicle licenses and documents.
Shehu Mohammed, the Corps Marshal of the FRSC, explained that the mobile app is designed to alert users to critical road safety issues such as excessive speeding and dangerous driving. He added that the app’s features, if properly utilized, could significantly reduce the number of injuries and fatalities from road crashes.
Mohammed stressed the importance of integrating modern technology into the FRSC’s operations to keep pace with global standards. He also introduced NACRIS, which aims to improve crash reporting and data storage through a multi-sectoral approach. The second phase of NACRIS will focus on creating a digital crash data template based on initial findings.
Abiodun Adeshida, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on FRSC, commended the introduction of the new app and ongoing efforts to amend the 2007 FRSC Act. He believes these advancements will help the FRSC achieve a modern, technologically advanced standard for road safety.
