Nigeria to Host First African Conference for Road Crash Victims

Nigeria will host the maiden International Road Crash Victims Africa Conference (IRCVAC) in November, aimed at giving a stronger voice to victims of road traffic crashes (RTCs) and their families.

The announcement was made at a joint press briefing in Abuja by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Kwapda’as Road Safety Demand (KRSD) Foundation.

Speaking at the event, FRSC Corps Marshal, Malam Shehu Mohammed, said the conference would focus on the plight of RTC victims across Africa. He noted that previous global road safety forums often concentrated on high-income countries, with limited attention to victims in Africa.

“This conference will bring together technocrats, experts in road traffic management, safety, and administration from around the world to showcase our nation, our continent, and the city of Abuja,” Mohammed said. “It is being held under the administration of His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu, who is committed to improving the quality of life of Nigerians.”

The corps marshal added that women and children remain the most vulnerable among crash victims. “Some children are abandoned, left uncared for, or forced to drop out of school, while others may fall into drugs,” he said. “This is why we are committed to amplifying their voices and highlighting their challenges at the global level.”

Also speaking, KRSD Foundation founder, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, said the conference, themed “Gathering Africa and the World for Road Crash Victims,” would be the first dedicated African forum for RTC victims and their families.

Dongban-Mensem, who established KRSD in memory of her late son on September 30, 2011, noted that the conference would bring together governments, private sector organisations, civil society, victims’ groups, and the global road safety community to reduce road crash casualties in Africa.

She added that pre-conference events, including cycling, walking, and golfing activities, would begin on November 15 to promote safer, healthier, and more sustainable mobility while fostering solidarity with crash victims.

Citing the World Health Organisation’s 2023 Global Status Report on Road Safety, she said Nigeria recorded one of the highest traffic death rates worldwide, at 21.4 deaths per 100,000 population, significantly above both global and African averages.

Dongban-Mensem also referenced the National Bureau of Statistics, reporting that 5,081 crashes occurred in the last quarter of 2023, causing 2,466 deaths and 15,535 injuries. The FRSC’s Q1 2024 operational report recorded 2,733 crashes, with 1,624 fatalities and 8,279 injuries.

“These are not just numbers; they represent fathers, mothers, children, and workers—lives cut short or changed forever,” she said.