Nigeria has been ranked among the African countries with the highest number of road traffic deaths, recording 21.4 deaths per 100,000 people, according to the World Health Organization’s Global Status Report on Road Safety 2023.
The figure was disclosed on Tuesday in Abuja at a joint press briefing by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Kwapda’as Road Safety Demand (KRSD) Foundation, where both organisations also announced plans to establish a national trauma centre for crash victims and their families.
The briefing also unveiled the upcoming International Road Crash Victims’ African Conference (IRCVAC) 2025, scheduled for November to mark the KRSD Foundation’s 14th anniversary. Themed “Gathering Africa and the World for Road Crash Victims”, it will be the first African forum dedicated to crash victims and their families.
KRSD founder, Hon. Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, who established the foundation in 2011 after losing her son in a road crash, said Nigeria’s road safety crisis demands urgent intervention.
Citing FRSC data, she noted that speeding and loss of control account for more than half of all road crashes nationwide. She also referenced statistics from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), which reported 5,081 crashes in just three months of 2023, leaving 2,466 dead and more than 15,000 injured.
Similarly, FRSC records show that in Q1 2024 alone, there were 2,733 crashes, resulting in 1,624 deaths and over 8,000 injuries.
Quoting the WHO report, Dongban-Mensem warned:
“Nigeria has one of the highest road traffic death rates in Africa and the world, at 21.4 deaths per 100,000 population. This is not just a statistic—it means thousands of families are devastated every year. The figure is significantly higher than both the global and African averages.”
She stressed the need for a stronger national strategy targeting key risk factors such as speeding, drunk driving, and non-use of seatbelts and helmets, in line with FRSC’s findings.
FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said road crashes claim about 1.2 million lives globally every year, with women and children disproportionately affected. He announced that the Corps is working with KRSD and other partners to establish a trauma centre offering medical and psychosocial support for victims and bereaved families.
Ahead of IRCVAC 2025, organisers said symbolic pre-events including a cycling rally, walking exercise, and golf tournament would be held to raise awareness and promote safer mobility across the country.
