Road accidents have long been a common occurrence around the world, and Nigeria is no exception. In the country, the leading causes of road accidents include speed violations, tyre bursts, disregard for traffic signals, and route violations. However, in recent years, there has been a noticeable decline in the number of road accidents.
Notably, the third quarter of 2024 recorded the lowest number of road accidents in the observed period, marking a significant 53% decrease compared to the same quarter in 2020. This steady decline appears to align with the series of petrol price hikes that began in May 2023, following the removal of fuel subsidies. Between May 2023 and September 2024, the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) rose by approximately 332.7%, potentially contributing to reduced road usage and, by extension, fewer accidents.
FCT, Ogun, and Nasarawa consistently rank as the top three states with the highest number of road accidents.
The FCT recorded its peak accident figures in 2022, particularly in Q2 (842 cases) and Q4 (864 cases).
In Q2 and Q3 of 2024, Ogun State surpassed the FCT in the number of reported accidents.
Across these three states, there has been a notable decline in accident numbers, with an average decrease of approximately 37.6% between Q2 and Q3 2024.