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Niger State Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has said that about 170 people have been killed in Niger State through road accidents during the first and second quarters of 2023.
The Sector Commander of the Corps, Kumar Tsukwam, stated this during the flag-off of the 2023 Ember Months campaign held at Mobil Motor Park Minna.
Mr. Tsukwam said that during the period under review, about 245 road traffic crashes (RTCs) were recorded, of which 70 were fatal cases. He added that the data revealed that speeding was the major cause of traffic crashes in the state.
Speaking on the comparison of accident rates between 2022 and 2023, the sector commander said that the incidents of road crashes and deaths have drastically reduced as of this year compared to last year.
According to him, about 205 lives were lost in 2022, while 260 cases of RTC were recorded with 85 fatalities.
Commander Kumar Tsukwam revealed that the comparison of the first and second quarters of 2022 and 2023 shows that RTC has reduced by three percent and fatalities are about 10 percent, while those killed are 9.3 percent in Niger State.
He said the reduction in both road traffic crashes and fatalities during the year under review was a result of measures put in place following aggressive sensitization undertaken by his leadership among motorists in the state through the media, as well as the engagement of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the state amongst other stakeholders.
The sector commander, FRSC, reaffirmed its commitment to partner with the leadership of all the Drivers Union and other relevant authorities, as well as sister security agencies, in their collective determination to tackle the challenges of road traffic crashes in the state through intelligence gathering and information gathering amongst themselves while on operations. He, however, warned that his command will not spare anyone who violates road traffic regulations, especially during the festive season.
He then commended Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago for his administration's continued desire to invest massively in the construction of new roads and the provision of road infrastructure across the state with a view to addressing the menace of road traffic crashes in the state.
He also appreciated the effort of the Secretary to the Niger State Government, SSG, for his relentless support of the command.
The theme of this year's Ember Month campaign was "Speed Thrills but Kills, Drive Responsibly, and Avoid Overloading,", which he said focuses on the need to avoid speeding and overloading.
The Kutigi Old Students Association (KUOSA), Class of '83, has commended the effort of Emir of Suleja, Mallam Awwal Ibrahim, for his foresight in the establishment of science colleges during his administration as governor of Niger State.
The Chairman of KUOSA, Class of 83, Prof. Mohammed Baba Ndaliman, made the commendation to celebrate the reunion of their alma mater held at Idris Legbo Kutigi Conference Centre in Minna.
Prof. Baba Ndaliman noted that the establishment of science oriented colleges in Niger State during his administration was the result of the legacy that placed the products of Government Science College Kutigi in their various chosen endevours across the country and the state in particular.
According to Prof. Baba Ndaliman, they entered Government Science College Kutigi as young, eager minds, "full of dreams and aspirations, and we emerged as individuals prepared to face the challenges of the world."
He noted that the lessons learned from their teachers the friendship they built with classmates and the values imbibed, played an integral role in shaping the trajectory of their lives, adding that this year’s reunion is a celebration of "our shared history of our class, in which we overcame challenges, pursued our dreams and carved out our own paths"
He appealed to the Executive Governor of Niger State, Hon. Mohammed Umar Bago, to, as part of his commitment towards uplifting the standard of education in the state, revive the whole-school rehabilitation program in order to restore the lost glory of Government Science College, Kutigi.
He explained that as a result of the insecurity bedeviling the state, the school was relocated, urging the governor to, as a matter of necessity, reopen the school and provide the needed security to safeguard the students.
