Niger records 147 road traffic deaths in 9 months

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Niger says that 147 persons died in road traffic crashes (RTC) in the state between January and September 2016.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Acting Sector Commander in the State, Mr Nma Magana, made this known on Thursday during the 2016 African Road Safety Day and World Day of Remembrance for Traffic Victims‎ in Minna.

“In Niger state, we have a death record of 147. And the record also shows that for RTC from January to September is 361, with 74 fatal cases and 265 serious cases.”

Magana said the number of injured persons in the period under review was 915, adding that prompt and proper medical care be given to road traffic crash victims to avoid fatalities.

It would be recalled that in 2015, the FRSC had 479 cases of RTC with 1,256 persons injured and 191 deaths.

On the issue of speed limit device, Magana noted that no single vehicle had complied, adding that the command had decided to get vendors to educate commercial vehicles on compliance.

“Enforcement proper will start Feb. 1st, 2017 and we are going to do more aggressive enlightenment because it will help reduce the number of RTC to a barest minimum.”