· 39 fatalities in 2022, 118 seriously injured
· 1, 120 prosecuted for traffic violations
· 3, 532 denied driver’s license
By Sarah NEGEDU
As Nigerians enter into festive mood for the Christmas festivity, the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, has urged for caution as Abuja averages 32 vehicular accidents each month.
The authorities disclosed that an average of one accident per month with 348 vehicles involved in different road accidents between January and December 2022.
The Abuja Inquirer gathered that more of these accidents were witnessed in the month of April 2022, as a result of over speeding and the slippery nature of the road surface during the rainy season.
Figures from the Transportation Secretariat of the FCTA shows that 508 people were involved in those 348 accidents, out of which 39 persons lost their lives, with 118 of them sustaining serious injuries while 355 people had minor or no injuries at all.
Mandate Secretary of the secretariat, Hon. Abdulahi Candido, told journalists at the annual end of year briefing of the secretariat that majority of the recorded accidents were self- accidents. https://theabujainquirer.com/2022/04/24/anxiety-in-bwari-as-council-chairman-in-ghastly-accident/
Documents obtained from the transportation secretariat also revealed that a total of 3,532 out of 54,620 applicants for driver’s license were denied licenses because they failed the test.
Also, during the period under review, about 21, 438 vehicles reportedly failed roadworthiness test. This figure is from the 37, 572 vehicles inspected between January and December, out of which only 16, 198 were found worthy.
Candido said the alarming figure was gotten from the rigorous examination the vehicles were subjected to at the Computerised Vehicle Inspection facilities.
The secretary attributed the high failure rate to random importation of fairly used vehicles, otherwise known as ” tokunbo” into the country, noted that most of these vehicles were given face-lifting treatment by their initial owners, after being involved in an accident or flooding in their countries of origin.
While he acknowledged that bad road network within the suburbs, and poor maintenance culture contribute significantly to the failure of these vehicles, he revealed that the Directorate of Road Traffic Services, DRTS, has been mandated to subject all vehicles to the computerised test before car documents renewal will be issued.
Also, to ameliorate traffic related offences in Abuja, 4,401 errant drivers were sent to compulsory correctional training within the year.
About 850 dispatch riders were also made to attend the mandatory training of the DRTS, before being issued with a Rider’s Certification Card.
About 1, 120 traffic offenders were also prosecuted before a a Mobile Court in Abuja.
“A total of 4, 401 traffic regulation violators, 850 Dispatch operation riders have attended mandatory training at our Lugbe centre.
“A total of 37, 572 motor vehicles have undergone inspection and emission testing at the DRTS computerised Inspection Centres.”
On the provision of the long-awaited BRT route, the secretary disclosed that the review of the conceptual design and available studies for a long-term Integrated Abuja BRT and detailed design of the pilot corridor, CBD to Auta Balefi in Nassarawa state is about 95percent completed.
He said the project is being carried out through African Development Bank grant.
According to him, “The certification of the 32.2KM project’s Environmental Social Impact Assessment Report, ESIA, by the Federal Ministry of Environment is 100 percent completed.
“The draft letter to Federal Ministry of Finance for the securing of African Development Bank loan for the BRT project phase 1 is awaiting the endorsement of the FCT Administration.”
He said the administration is currently in talks with two private investors for injection of high-capacity buses into the Abuja Urban Transportation System.
Draft Memorandum of Understanding has been forwarded to the Abuja Investment Company Ltd and AlIC for Public Private Participation Option reviews and further due diligence.
