THE SECTOR Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Benue Command, Mr Steve Ayodele, says that 432 persons died in road crashes in Benue between December 15, 2024, and January 15, 2025.
Ayodele made the disclosure at a press conference to flag off the 2025 Ember Months of public enlightenment and sensitisation campaign on Monday in Makurdi.
He said that the total number of reported cases of road crashes within the period was 533.
“The records also showed that the major causes of those crashes were driver fatigue, overloading of persons, conveyance of persons in haulage vehicles and travelling with fuel in plastic containers. Apparently, driver behaviour is a fundamental element in determining safety on our highways.
“The Ember Month Campaign is a yearly tradition through which the Federal Road Safety Corps intensifies its advocacy and public awareness on the need for safer road use.
“As we are all aware, the Ember Months is a season marked by increased travel, higher traffic volume and an attendant rise in road crash injuries and fatalities,” Ayodele said.
He said that the theme for the campaign was “Take Responsibility for Your Safety: Stop Distracted Driving”.
Ayodele stressed that the theme reinforced the view that the human factor was one of the major causes of road crashes.
He appreciated newsmen for their unwavering commitment to advancing road safety enlightenment.
The sector commander stated that their platforms had consistently amplified their voices as crucial stakeholders, thus improving road safety awareness in Nigeria.
He further said that the corps recognised the media as a critical platform for enlightenment and orientation, and that underscored the need for the conference. He listed some of the violations to include failure to adhere to road traffic rules and regulations, speed limit violations, driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, and seat belt violations, as well as road rage. (NAN)
