The Federal Road Safety Corps FRSC says over 600 people lost their lives due to road traffic accidents along Kaduna/Zaria/ Kano route between January and June this year.
Assistant Corps Marshal in charge of Kano, Kaduna, Katsina and Jigawa, Dr Godwin Omiko, disclosed this during an advocacy visit to the Emir of Zazzau Malam Ahmed Bamalli, in Zaria.
Dr Omiko explained that additional 2,310 victims of the accidents sustained various degrees of bone injuries within the time under review.
He said by June last year the route recorded 350 deaths but the figures had doubled this year when the condition of the road significantly improved hence the advocacy to the Emir.
The zonal commandant, therefore, implored the royal father to intervene to address the challenge.
“Your intervention is very imperative considering the rising cases of road crashes on this axis, we held series of sensitization programs at motor parks and other places but that had not yielded the desired results”
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Omiko attributed the accidents to excessive speed, dangerous overtaking, reckless driving, driving under the influence of drugs and blatant disregard for road traffic regulations by motorists.
He particularly expressed worry over the high rate of recklessness exhibited by Sharon and other Buses drivers on the Kaduna-Zaria and Kano routes.
” Your highness they have turned the rehabilitated portion of the road to be a racing track,” he lamented.
The Zonal Commander, therefore, decorated the Royal Father with the title of Honorary Marshal.
In a remark, the Emir of Zazzau, Malam Ahmed Bamalli lamented the rising death in road accidents and urged the Corps not to relent on its sensitization and advocacy programs.
Bamalli assured the FRSC that the Emirate Council would explore various channels of communication to reach out to road transport workers to tame the challenge.
However, during an interaction with the Corps, Alhaji Inuwa Aminu, the Wazirin Zazzau urged them to reclaim and restore their confidence.
The council member said some officials of the FRSC compromised the excess by some motorists.
COV/ Ibrahim Suleiman
