Nigerian Red Cross Partners Stakeholders To Reduce Road Crashes

Nigerian Red Cross Society, Prudential Zenith Life Insurance and the The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) have collaborated for a road safety campaign to educate road users and stakeholders in the transport sector about safety and accident response.

Speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting on Thursday to announce the project, managing director of the Nigerian Red Cross Social Enterprise, Dr. Usman Bassi, outlined its objectives, which include raising awareness, educating drivers, and equipping road users with basic first aid skills.

The initiative, titled the Safe Steps Road Safety Campaign, will run from January to June 2025. The campaign will initially focus on high-risk areas like Lagos and Abuja, where road crashes are most frequent.

“The Red Cross will lead efforts to train drivers and bystanders in first aid, enabling them to act as first responders during accidents,” Dr. Bassi stated.

He emphasised the need to tackle the alarming rate of road accidents, noting that “With over 2.1 million crashes annually, this campaign will engage transport unions, ride-hailing drivers, and other road users to foster a culture of safety.”

Dr. Bassi also reiterated the Red Cross’s commitment to reducing casualties by providing hands-on first aid training and resources. “Our goal is to ensure that anyone at the scene of a crash can offer basic life-saving assistance before professional help arrives,” he added.

Chief transformation and strategy officer at Prudential Zenith Life Insurance, Charice Ige, highlighted the company’s commitment to safer roads. “As a life insurance company, we witness the devastating effects of road accidents daily. This campaign aligns with our mission to support Nigerian families,” she said.

Supported by the Prudence Foundation, Prudential PLC’s CSR arm, Ige affirmed that the initiative is part of their broader social responsibility efforts.

Corps marshal Shehu Mohammed of the FRSC, represented by corps commander Danladi-Boyi Apaji, commended the collaboration, describing it as a timely intervention aligned with the FRSC’s 2024 strategic goals.

He acknowledged the persistence of road crashes despite ongoing sensitisation efforts, particularly in urban centers like Lagos and Abuja.

Addressing the issue of traffic violations by VIPs, Mohammed stressed that “no one is above the law.” He further noted that the FRSC would leverage surveillance technology and social media to hold offenders accountable and deter reckless behaviour.