411 NIGERIANS LOST THEIR LIVES WHILE SCOOPING FUEL IN 2024

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Between January and December 2024, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) apprehended 21,580 traffic offenders across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The corps also reported that 411 individuals lost their lives while scooping fuel during the year.

The FRSC Corps Marshal, Malam Shehu Mohammed, shared these details while addressing the media in Abuja on Monday regarding the 2024 special patrol operations.

According to Mohammed, the total number of traffic offenses committed in 2024 was 25,942, reflecting a 23.5% decrease in violations compared to the same period in 2023.

According to Mohammed, the corps recorded a reduction in the number of offenders in 2024 as against 29,220 within the same period in 2023.

He explained, “This signifies a 26 per cent increase in compliance to traffic rules and regulations.”

He further explained that the annual performance review of the corps showed a significant decline in Road Traffic Crashes (RTCs).

Mohammed added that from January 1 to December 31, 2024, a total of 9,570 RTCs occurred nationwide, a notable decrease of 10% from the 10,617 crashes reported in 2023.

He mentioned that 31,154 people were injured in traffic incidents in 2024, compared to 31,874 injuries in 2023, marking a 2% reduction.

However, fatalities increased by 7%, with 5,421 people dying in 2024, up from 5,081 in 2023.

The Corps Marshal pointed out that 411 of these deaths, accounting for 7.6% of the total fatalities, were not directly caused by crashes but were a result of the dangerous practice of scooping fuel from overturned tankers, a problem the corps is working to address.

He concluded by stating that, excluding the deaths from fuel scooping, the number of fatalities for 2024 would have been 5,010.