By Ibironke Ariyo
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and safety stakeholders have called for meaningful youth involvement in road safety to avert crashes involving young ones across the country.
The Stakeholders made the call during the stakeholders meeting in commemoration of the 2022 World Day Remembrance for Road Traffic Crash victims on Thursday in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme for the 2022 remembrance day is “Justice, act for low speed and act for low speed streets”.
Speaking during the meeting, the Zonal Commanding Officer (ZCO), Assistant Corps Marshal (ACM) Shehu Mohammed, said that there was need to focus and involve the youth to have a crash free society.
Mohammed said that the youth formed the vital part of a country and a major segment in the FRSC, adding that there was need to recognise the role and importance of youths in the country to prevent road crashes.
He said that over 70 per cent of crashes recorded in the FCT between Janauary and September involved young adults.
“I want to urge us all to continue to hold on as we jointly save lives on the highway as road safety is everyone’s business, “he said.
The Executive Director, Greenlight Initiative, Simon Obi, lamented that youths were naturally problematic road users.
Obi, however, said that it was important to know that youths were energetic and could turn things around if their minds were in such.
“We called that we should work with youths to avert this rate of road crashes involving them.
“It is unacceptable to allow them keep dieing as a result of road traffic crashes,” he said.
The Founder, Hope Alive for Possibilities Initiative, Miss Aver Akighir, advised that the FRSC should work hand in hand with crash victims to help in the rehabilitation and reintegration of such victims to avoid stigmatisation from the society.
Akighir said that victims of crashes could be seen as ambassadors of campaigns on road crashes to help pass the message and information properly to such victims.
“I want to encourage everyone to help crash victims through rehabilitation as accidents were inevitable.
“But the effect of road crashes could be minimal if proper information are passed across to the appropriate audience, ” she said.
One of the Panelists from the FRSC, Mr Joshua Ashaolu, said that the Corps was working with the Ministry of Education to include in the school curriculum the road safety guide to help children in preventing crashes.
He said ” there is need for us to start from the scratch which means we will start from primary school. Projecting that will bring awareness.
“Preventing this tragedies, youth must however get fully and meaningfully involved, “he said.
Also, Representative, World Health Organisation (WHO) Mrs Mary Dewan, assured the readiness of the organisation in continuous advocacy and education on raid crashes.
Dr Yusuf Subaru, Representative, Non Governmental Organisation (NGOs) said that all non profit making organisations would work at ensuring that FRSC and government in general made appropriate policies to advance youth involvement in road safety.
Subaru called for capacity building and training of drivers, public and first respondents in giving proper first aid to road crash victims.
NAN reports that WHO says Road Traffic Injuries is now the major cause of deaths of children and young people, aged 5-29 years, globally. (NAN)
