Abuja: Adams Oshiomhole, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior, has called for urgent action to curb road traffic deaths in Nigeria. Oshiomhole made the call at the International Day of Remembrance of Road Traffic Victims Conference in Abuja. Recounting personal experiences of loss, he highlighted the devastating impact of road accidents on families, students, and communities. He emphasised that road safety required both personal responsibility and institutional enforcement. He said that everyone could do something different when on the road.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Oshiomhole urged that drivers should be properly tested before operating vehicles and that authorities should ensure compliance. He criticised the misuse of sirens and technical vehicles by unauthorised individuals and stressed the need for a unit to determine vehicle roadworthiness. He pointed out the dangers posed by unqualified drivers and second-hand vehicles and called on authorities to regulate imports to prevent accidents. The senator also drew attention to unsafe driving practices observed abroad and compared them with lapses in Nigeria.
Oshiomhole called on law enforcement agencies to enforce traffic regulations strictly and to ensure that offenders were prosecuted to serve as deterrents. He encouraged Nigerians to raise awareness, uphold the law, and educate youths about road safety. He said that the day was not one for lamentation but for action, and he urged Nigerians to pray for the youths and the safety of the roads. He also commended the FRSC and its committee members for their efforts in promoting driver competence and road safety.
In her goodwill message, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, called for urgent and collective action to protect victims of road traffic crashes. Kekere-Ekun noted that every accident was preventable. The CJN was represented by Halimat Turaki. She commended the visionary initiative of Kwapda’as Road Safety Demand (KRSD) Foundation, which she described as a living memorial offering hope, legacy, and healing to countless families across Nigeria and beyond. She noted that the conference challenged stakeholders to view road accidents not as inevitable but as preventable.
Kekere-Ekun urged policymakers, law enforcers, health professionals, and the judiciary to work together in building a culture of accountability, compassion, and strategic intervention. The CJN also praised the advocacy for the establishment of Trauma Recovery Centres for road crash victims, describing it as a monumental step toward justice, dignity, and societal responsibility. Emphasising the moral duty of the judiciary, Kekere-Ekun stated that the law must not only address negligence but also protect the dignity of victims and their families.
In her remarks, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, President of the Court of Appeal, called for firm accountability for reckless road use and stronger protection for victims of road crashes across Africa. Dongban-Mensem said that the continent must move road safety issues to a higher level. She recounted losing her son in a crash, noting that many families endured similar pain. The Appeal Court President said the organising team conducted trainings for drivers, school visits, commercial motor parks outreach, and national road campaigns to raise awareness.
Dongban-Mensem said collaboration with the private sector was crucial and confirmed the FCT Minister’s allocation of land for a trauma centre. She added that several governors and traditional leaders had shown commitment to the project, expected to provide relief for victims needing long-term care. Dongban-Mensem lamented that survivors often struggled with physical disabilities, emotional trauma, and financial hardship. She urged African governments to enact affordable, updated, and enforceable road safety laws, emphasising the need for emergency care legislation.
She expressed the hope that the conference, the first focused on African victims, would not be the last. She highlighted the need for laws compelling hospitals to respond immediately, noting that many die because attention comes too late. Even with good roads in Abuja, drivers still behave recklessly, and people must face consequences for dangerous behaviour. She emphasised the importance of keeping citizens safe, supporting victims, and ensuring the stories shared at the conference yield a lasting impact.