Poor Infrastructure, Unsafe Practices Responsible For Deaths On Nigerian Roads – ATCN

Automobile and Touring Club of Nigeria (ATCN), has identified unsafe road practices and poorly planned transport infrastructures as the leading causes of death and injuries on Nigerian roads.

ATCN president, Ishaku Bamaiyi, stated this in Kaduna while speaking at the opening of the two-day awareness campaign titled, “Promoting Safe and Sustainable Mobility for Youth” held at the Kaduna State University (KASU) Auditorium

Banaiyi said ATCN was registered in 2009 as the national body responsible for promoting road safety, organizing motorsport events, and advancing public awareness on sustainable transportation and environmental issues in Nigeria.

Speaking on the campaign’s essence, the ATCN president said, “Today’s event is borne out of a deep and urgent concern: the alarming rate at which our youth are falling victim to road traffic crashes and the consequences of unsustainable transport systems.

“According to the World Health Organization, road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death among young people aged 15 to 29 worldwide.

“In Nigeria alone, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) reports that over 6,205 lives were lost in road crashes in 2023, with young people making up more than 50% of these fatalities. These are not just numbers they are students, graduates, workers, and future leaders whose lives were tragically cut short due to unsafe road practices and poorly planned transport infrastructure.

“Beyond fatalities, thousands more suffer life-altering injuries that affect their education, careers, and mental health. In many urban and peri-urban communities, young people rely on unsafe modes of transportation, overloaded motorcycles, poorly maintained vehicles, or long treks on roads without pedestrian walkways.

“These realities are not just a reflection of poor road safety, but also a sign of deep-seated inequality in mobility access.

“This is why we are here today. This event is more than a conference it is a call to action. A platform where government, academic institutions, private sector, civil society, and most importantly youth can come together to explore real solutions, drive policy conversations, and promote a shared vision for safe, smart, and sustainable mobility.

“As we begin this program, I urge every stakeholder in this room public and private, local and international to commit not just to conversations, but to collaboration and concrete action. We must support policies, programs, and partnerships that protect our youth, promote environmental responsibility, and ensure equitable access to safe mobility for all,” he appealed.

Earlier in her address, mobility programmes coordinator, Esther Chukwuma Chinazor said, youths are not just the future; they are the change Nigeria needs right now to get the right things done.

She however charged the youths to raise their voice, advocate in their schools, communities, and online, use their creativity through art, music, tech, and storytelling to demand safer streets, proper road infrastructure, functional pedestrian lanes, cycle paths, and public transport that works for everyone.

According to her, “You can join or lead road safety clubs, participate in community awareness campaigns, and engage with local and national leaders to ensure that policies prioritize youth safety and sustainable transport.

“You are not powerless. You are powerful. Your passion is fuel. Your voice is a seatbelt for your generation and the next. ATCN is committed to walking this path with you. Together, we will design programs that empower youth, we will build platforms that amplify your voices, and we will continue to challenge systems that overlook your rights to safe, sustainable, and inclusive mobility.

“Let us honour every life lost on our roads by ensuring no more are needlessly taken. Let us choose to build a world where walking to school, riding a bicycle, or boarding a bus is not an act of bravery but one of safety, dignity, and hope. Together, let’s keep the wheels turning not toward tragedy but toward transformation,” she urged.