15th May, 2024
By Jethro Ibileke
No fewer than 42 people lost their lives in 57 road accidents recorded across Edo State between January and April this year.
The State FRSC Sector Commander, Paul Okpe, disclosed this in a chat with journalists in Benin.
According to him, a total of 22 people were killed in the month of January alone, while four were killed in the month of February, 11 in March and five in April.
Statistics from the FRSC indicated that 537 passengers were involved in the various accidents, while 42 died, 206 injured and others escaped unhurt.
Okpe attributed the crashes to over speeding, brake failure, route violation, dangerous driving, use of phone while driving, among other causes.
He, however, called on motorists to drive with care and imbibe safety culture on the road in order to stay alive.
Meanwhile, the Edo Command of the FRSC, has called for the support of all stakeholders in the transport sector in reducing road traffic crashes and fatalities in the state.
Edo Sector Commander of FRSC, Paul Okpe, made the call during a meeting with stakeholders in the the transport sector.
He said the meeting was aimed at sensitizing transport stakeholders on the need to support the Corps in reducing road traffic crashes.
Okpe noted that the development was part of the Corps Marshal, Dauda Ali Biu’s initiative on zero Road Traffic Crashes (RTC) across the country.
He said: “We are here to educate and sensitize drivers, owners of trailers and trucks, as well as passengers on the need to imbibe safety culture at all times while using the road.
“This is also part of the Corps Marshal’s effort aimed at mitigating road traffic crashes and fatalities involving trailers conveying goods, animals and people.”
The Edo FRSC boss disclosed that the sensitisation would be carried out across the 18 local government areas of the state to esure that all road users imbibe safety culture while on the road.
He therefore charged motorists to avoid over speeding, drunk-driving, route violation, over loading, driving with worn-out tyres among others, in order to stay alive and reach their destination safely.