Nigeria will host the first International Road Crash Victims Africa Conference (IRCVAC) in November, bringing global attention to the experiences of victims of road traffic crashes across the continent.
The announcement was made at a joint press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Kwapda’as Road Safety Demand (KRSD) Foundation.
Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Shehu Mohammed, said the conference would provide a platform for governments, experts, and advocates to address the often-overlooked challenges faced by victims and their families.
“In very many global conferences on road accident and crash injuries, emphasis has been on high-income countries,” Mohammed said.
“The essence of this conference is to bring technocrats, professionals and experts in road accident and crash injuries, road transport, traffic and safety management, and administration from all over the world to showcase our country, our continent, and our city of Abuja.”
He linked the initiative to the administration of President Bola Tinubu, stating that the government was committed to improving the quality of life of Nigerians.
“That is why FRSC and KRSD came together to support his administration in making this international conference a reality here in Abuja,” he said.
Mohammed highlighted the struggles endured by road crash victims and their dependents, particularly women and children.
“Some of the children are abandoned or uncared for, while others drop out of school and end up on drugs,” he said. “This is why we are committed to giving them a voice and pushing their plight to the centre of global discussions.”
Founder of the KRSD Foundation, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, said the event would be the first African forum solely focused on the needs of victims of road crashes.
“The conference, guided by the theme ‘Gathering Africa and the World for Road Crash Victims,’ is about placing victims and their families at the centre of road safety conversations,” she said.
Dongban-Mensem, who established the foundation in 2011 in memory of her late son, said the organisation was marking its 14th anniversary with a renewed focus on advocacy.
She added that the conference would gather governments, private organisations, civil society, and victims’ groups alongside the global road safety community.
Pre-conference activities, including cycling, walking, and golfing, will begin on November 15 to promote sustainable mobility and solidarity with victims.
Citing the World Health Organisation’s 2023 Global Status Report on Road Safety, Dongban-Mensem said Nigeria recorded one of the highest traffic death rates worldwide, with 21.4 deaths per 100,000 population.
“The figure is significantly higher than both global and African averages,” she said, pointing to the need for stronger strategies to address speeding, drunk driving, and the non-use of seatbelts and helmets.
She also referred to domestic statistics showing that 5,081 crashes occurred in the last quarter of 2023, leading to 2,466 deaths and 15,535 injuries.
The FRSC’s operational report for the first quarter of 2024 recorded 2,733 crashes with 1,624 fatalities and 8,279 injuries.
“These statistics represent real people: fathers, mothers, children, workers, breadwinners, lives cut short or changed forever,” she said.
