The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has disclosed a worrying 24.23% surge in road accidents during the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to the previous quarter. The NBS Road Transport Data Q4 2023 Report, unveiled in Abuja, highlighted a total of 2,717 road accidents during this period, marking a substantial increase from the 2,187 recorded in Q3 2023.
Despite this alarming spike, the report also indicated a 33.12% decrease in road accidents when comparing Q4 2023 to the same period in 2022. However, the categorization of accidents revealed a disturbing trend, with serious cases accounting for the highest proportion at 1,772, followed by fatal cases at 687 and minor cases at 258.
The gender distribution of fatalities and injuries painted a stark picture. In Q4 2023, 83.45% of the 1,323 persons killed in accidents were males, while males represented 76.01% of the 9,116 injured individuals. These figures underscore a significant gender imbalance in the impact of road accidents.
The report also shed light on the total number of vehicles involved in road accidents, which surged to 4,195 in Q4 2023 from 3,371 in the previous quarter. Commercial vehicles bore the brunt of these accidents, with 2,306 instances, overshadowing private, government, and diplomatic vehicle categories.
Regional analysis revealed that the North-Central region recorded the highest number of accidents, with 905 incidents, followed by the South-West with 650, and the South-South with the fewest at 141. Correspondingly, casualty figures were highest in the North-Central region, with 3,152 casualties, followed by the North-West with 2,500, and the South-South with the least at 412.
The report serves as a poignant reminder of the urgent need for enhanced road safety measures to mitigate the devastating impact of road accidents.
