Nigeria: Road accidents increased every fourth quarter since 2019
Examining road accidents in Nigeria from Q1 2019 to Q2 2023 shows that crashes increased in every fourth quarter. This can be attributed to increased road traffic during the festive periods. Here are road accidents in Nigeria from Q1 2019 to Q2 2023 and ways to reduce accidents.
In 2022, derailments accounted for 44% of all train accidents, increasing from 35% in 2021 to 38% in 2020. This shows the need to prioritise railway infrastructure maintenance. Locomotive failures also contributed to train accidents, making up 35% of cases in 2022. Although this is slightly lower than the 36% recorded in 2020, it still represents a significant proportion of rail incidents.
Road traffic crashes in Nigeria remain a significant concern, with an average casualty rate of approximately 50% throughout 2022. This means half of the people involved in crashes either sustained injuries or lost their lives. While the remaining half walked away unharmed, February and November had the highest casualty rates at 53%, though with just a slight increase from other months.
A closer look at the data reveals that injuries far outweigh fatalities across all months. This pattern shows the heavy burden on hospitals and emergency services, which often struggle to manage the influx of victims. December, a festive season marked by increased travel, saw a casualty rate of 52%, with deaths accounting for 6.4% and injuries rising to 45.7%. This reaffirms the need for extra caution during peak travel when road congestion and reckless driving are heightened.
Data from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) highlights a worrying rise in traffic crashes in Nigeria between 2020 and 2022. Fatal crashes and crashes resulting in serious injuries have increased consistently, emphasising a growing public safety challenge on the nation’s roads.
In 2020, Nigeria recorded 11,935 crashes with 2,961 fatalities and 7,627 serious injuries. By 2022, the numbers climbed further to 13,656 total crashes, with 3,309 fatal incidents (a 12% rise) and 8,953 serious injuries (a 17% increase).
In 2022, approximately 36% of road accidents in Nigeria were caused by speeding violations, accounting for 6,578 cases. This reveals the need for drivers to prioritise safety over the rush to reach their destinations. Loss of control closely follows as another significant cause, contributing to 19.9% of accidents.
While speeding dominates, other seemingly smaller actions like wrongful overtaking (5.6%), dangerous driving (5.7%), and sign/light violations (8.0%) still add up to the dangers.
The International Civil Aviation Day is celebrated every year on December 7. Global Airlines experienced over 100% revenue growth from 2020 to 2023, with passenger revenue, the primary driver of this growth.
Cargo revenue has also contributed significantly to the overall increase. This shows the industry is recovering strongly from the pandemic. Notably, cargo revenue has experienced consistent growth since 2019; even during the COVID-19 pandemic, cargo revenue grew from $101b in 2019 to $140b in 2020.
The airline industry's future looks bright, with continued growth expected in the coming years as forecasted in 2024.
After the fuel subsidy was removed, the cost of bus fares for intracity journeys rose by 98% between May 2023 and June 2023. In just 18 months, fares increased by 39% significantly affecting commuters.
