By Muhammad Amaan
The United Nations in partnership with the Nigeria’s Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has launched the #MakeASafetyStatement campaign to address Nigeria’s growing road accident crisis.
Mr Jean Todt, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety, said road safety is everyone’s business, stressing the need for everyday responsibility and safer driving behaviour.
He stated this on Friday during a news conference in Lagos.
The campaign was first unveiled during the United Nations General Assembly on Global Road Safety in 2022.
Since then, it has been deployed in more than 40 countries, with a target to reach 80 countries and 1,000 cities by 2026.
Todt said the campaign urged small but lifesaving actions, including using seatbelts, helmets and avoiding reckless driving.
He described road deaths as an urgent global crisis, with Africa as the epicentre, noting crashes kill more people than wars on the continent.
“Over 250,000 Africans die annually in road crashes, representing nearly one in four global victims,” Todt warned.
He stressed that road deaths were “a silent pandemic” and urged urgent global action to stop the carnage.
Highlighting Nigeria’s case, he said the country records nearly 37,000 road deaths yearly, averaging about 100 lives lost every day.
Todt noted that road crashes were the second leading cause of death among Nigerian teenagers and young adults.
He commended Nigeria’s national road safety strategy but emphasised the need for full nationwide implementation.
He further warned that road crashes cost countries around five per cent of GDP, while safe mobility drives economic growth, opportunities and healthier lifestyles.
Todt added that his book, The Silent Pandemic on the Road, offered expert guidance and stressed shared responsibility in ending road deaths.
Similarly, FRSC Corps Marshal, Mr Shehu Mohammed, said road safety required collective responsibility from all citizens.
He explained that Nigeria had adopted the UN Decade of Action and developed the Nigeria Road Safety Strategy built on five pillars of the safe system approach.
These pillars include safer speeds, safer roads, safer vehicles, safer road users and adequate post-crash care.
He urged Nigerians to obey traffic laws, avoid overloading, speed and drunk driving, maintain limits and wear helmets when riding motorcycles.
Mohammed said achieving behavioural changes could cut road crashes by 50 per cent by 2030, reaffirming FRSC’s commitment to its safety agenda.
Also, Abimbola Ijaniyi, Sales Manager at JCDecaux, reaffirmed the company’s support for safer public spaces through sustainable media initiatives.
Representing JCDecaux’s Managing Director, Omoniyi Dada, she said the company has partnered with the UN since 2023, reaching millions in 50 countries and 30 languages.
Ijaniyi said JCDecaux plans to expand the campaign across 80 countries and 1,000 cities in the coming months.
She stressed that sustainable media could save lives by raising awareness of safety rules and responsible road use.
According to JCDecaux, the campaign features short, impactful messages from global celebrities including Naomi Campbell, Novak Djokovic and Didier Drogba.
The messages promote safe practices such as observing speed limits, wearing seatbelts and helmets, and respecting traffic rules.
