Road traffic accidents in Nigeria: a review and a reappraisal

Abstract

Based on data that are at best conservative estimates, Nigeria is a country with a serious and growing road accident problem that is about the worst in the world. As can be seen from the trend over a 15-year period (1971-1985), legislative and other countermeasures thus far have proved ineffective. In 1988, a new approach was adopted with the formation of a national body charged with road traffic accident control--The Federal Road Safety Commission. In this paper, the programme of action of this body is examined to see to what extent it hopes to be able to fulfil its mandate. Suggestions are made on how the motorized industrialised countries can give assistance to developing countries through such bodies as the World Health Organization (WHO), the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and the World Bank.