The Minister of Transportation, Sen. Saidu Alkali, disclosed that more than 90% of Road Traffic Crashes (RTCs) in Nigeria are caused by human factors.
He made this statement during the 2024 annual safety managers retreat, organized by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Abuja on Thursday.
Alkali pointed out that key human factors contributing to road accidents include negligence, fatigue, and the failure to adhere to safety protocols.
“As safety managers, you are the vanguard against such tragedies. Therefore, I call on you to collaborate with relevant stakeholders and sister agencies like the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to ensure a unified approach to road safety and fleet efficiency in Nigeria,” he urged.
The Minister emphasized the importance of collaboration during the retreat, encouraging participants to share their experiences, challenges, and successes.
He further encouraged safety managers to challenge conventional thinking and explore innovative strategies that align with their collective mission of protecting lives and improving fleet performance.
“I encourage each of you to take back the insights and best practices from this retreat to your teams. Together, we can foster a safer, smarter, and more sustainable future for fleet management in Nigeria,” he said.
Alkali reminded stakeholders that road safety is a shared responsibility and called for everyone to contribute towards saving lives, reducing risks, and ensuring the successful integration of technology and human ingenuity.
“The road ahead may be challenging, but it is also filled with multiple opportunities. By embracing innovation and prioritizing safety, we can make 2024 a landmark year in driver management and fleet safety,” he added.
In his address, the FRSC Corps Marshal, Malam Shehu Mohammed, emphasized that safety managers are professionals who are crucial to the advancement of their organizations.
He urged them to uphold the highest levels of professionalism, as unprofessional practices could lead to fatalities and harm the reputation of their organizations.
“To achieve this, fleet operators are expected to introduce improved safety practices and ensure the comfort of passengers and customers while complying with traffic regulations,” he stated.
Mohammed also reminded safety managers that passengers and customers have the right to report any form of disservice to the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), which can take action.
“This includes complying with the provisions of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).”
He further emphasized that safety managers must ensure effective vehicle maintenance and proper administration of passenger manifests.
“Articulated vehicle operators must ensure proper latching of goods, and twist locks should be used for container trucks in transit to avoid accidents. Wet cargo operators must ensure the use of safety valves. Safety managers must prioritize these issues to ensure fleet safety,” he stated.
Highlighting the approaching “ember” months, which are typically associated with increased traffic and commercial activity, Mohammed expressed concern over the tendency of some drivers, particularly commercial drivers, to disregard safety protocols by speeding or driving while fatigued, leading to accidents.
“Unfortunately, it is also a period when many drivers (especially commercial drivers) throw caution to the wind by speeding, taking little or no rest at all, which results in fatigue and eventually crashes. We therefore hope that safety managers will ensure that their drivers observe all required safety precautions of road use and ‘drive to stay alive’ during this period and beyond,” he cautioned.
