A push to address road safety has received a boost as Federal Road Safety Corps has introduced a new mobile app and the National Crash Reporting Information System to improve safety and address road traffic crashes across Nigeria.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, lauded the initiative as a significant advancement for the FRSC, reflecting ongoing digital transformation efforts to better manage road safety.
Akume, at the launch said that these new tools aim to raise awareness among drivers and passengers about road safety and the causes of accidents.
“Data on road traffic crashes reveal that between January and December 2023, road traffic crashes claimed the lives of 5,081 Nigerians, with a total of 31,874 Nigerians injured during the period under review.
“Furthermore, between January and July 2024, 2,776 people were killed and 16,309 injured as a result of road traffic crashes.
“Even though the FRSC has been innovative in implementing measures against reckless driving and improper road use, these figures call for concern from both government and non-governmental stakeholders on road safety.
“It also reminds us of the need for more effort and urgent action towards reducing these figures to their barest minimum,”said Akume.
He further noted that it is expected to strengthen the commitment of vehicle users and traffic law enforcement officers to contribute positively to road safety issues.
“I wish to commend the effort of the FRSC Management in aligning with the vision of President Bola Tinubu’s administration on the Renewed Hope agenda, aimed at digital transformation and economic growth for the nation.
“Permit me to also put on record that the Federal Government is committed to ensuring that these projects are sustained through adequate support for the benefit of Nigerians,” he added.
The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, noted that the FRSC believes there is still room for improvement in this digital age.
“Despite our modest achievements, the FRSC still believes there is room for improvement and development, especially in line with the current global trend in the digital economy.
“It is in consideration of this global trend that I decided to focus on digitising FRSC operations as one of the cardinal objectives of my team.
“The launch of the FRSC Mobile App and NACRIS is therefore a deliberate effort by the Corps to align with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at digital transformation, ease of doing business, and economic growth for the nation,” he said.
According to him, the app will offer features such as alerts for speeding, dangerous driving, and vehicle document verification, while NACRIS will focus on crash reporting and data management.
“The proper application of these features is expected to drastically reduce injuries and fatalities resulting from road traffic crashes.
“In this era of technological advancement, the FRSC cannot afford to lag behind. It is in this light that the Corps has decided to adapt and evolve its operations into the global network service system.
“On the other hand, NACRIS is designed to promote a multi-sectoral approach to crash reporting and data storage. We are all aware that globally, decision-makers rely on the accuracy and reliability of data to make informed decisions.
“Considering that data is a valuable tool for planning and resource allocation, the NACRIS approach is designed to ensure that collated data is used for effective implementation of policies that will positively impact road safety administration and management,” he said.
The Chairman of the House Committee on FRSC, Abiodun Adesida, praised the FRSC’s leadership and the new technologies.
He highlighted that the app provides real-time traffic updates and accident alerts, which are essential for safer driving practices.