Accidents claimed 191 lives in 10 months in Kogi ―FRSC

THE Kogi state command if the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), on Tuesday said at least 191 persons died in 294 road accidents recorded in the state between January and October.

The head of operation of the command, Mr Suleiman Mohammed, made the disclosure while speaking on activities marking the 2017 African Road Safety Day and World Remembrance Week for Road Traffic Victims with the theme “2020 target: reduce road fatalities and reduce injuries by 50 per cent.”

According to him, no fewer than 1,251 victims also sustained injuries during the time under review, while 1,569 were rescued unhurt by the men of the FRSC.

He however blamed overloading, over speeding, phone driving, drunk driving and poor mechanical conditions of vehicles for major causes of accidents on roads in the state.

The FRSC Chief, however, said that the number of deaths and injuries recorded this year was lower than the previous years, calling on the motoring public to join hands with the Organisation to reduce the carnage on the roads.

On the problem of overloading by vehicles plying roads in the state, he said the FRSC was working relevant organisations to end the practice.

Mohammed stated that the command had scaled up its enforcement and public enlightenment activities to reduce road accident.

He added that stating that the sector would stage a mega rally at the popular Ibro pack in Lokoja, the state capital to address stakeholders like the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, National Association of Road Transport Owners on the dangers and the economic implications of road crashes.

He said top echelon of the command would also visit victims of road accidents in various hospitals, while wives of officers will pay visits to orphanages to make some donations.