The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said on Monday at least 5,421 people died in auto accidents in the country last year.
The Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, disclosed this at a press conference to mark the conclusion of the Corps’ “Operation Zero Tolerance” special patrol campaign in Abuja.
He said the 2024 figure was a 7 percent increase over the 5,081 fatalities recorded in 2023.
The corps marshal added that the rise in accident fatalities occurred despite a 10 percent reduction in the total number of road crashes nationwide, with 9,570 incidents recorded in 2024 compared to 10,617 in the previous year.
Mohammed noted that data from the Corps revealed that while road crashes and injuries reduced slightly in 2024, the total number of people involved in accidents increased by one percent from 70,092 in 2023 to 70,530 in 2024.
He said: “Analysis of our annual performance indicates that from January to December 2024, the corps recorded a drastic reduction in road traffic crashes as well as in the number of people injured when compared to the annual record of 2023.
“From 1st January to 31st December 2024, a total of 9,570 road traffic crashes were recorded nationwide. This figure is against 10,617 road traffic crashes recorded in 2023 which signifies a tremendous reduction of 10 percent.
“Furthermore, 31,154 people were injured in 2024 while 31,874 were injured in 2023 representing a two percent decrease. However, the Corps recorded a seven percent increase in fatalities as 5,421 people were killed in 2024 while 5,081 people were killed in 2023.
“Meanwhile, a total of 70,530 people got involved in road traffic crashes in 2024 compared to 70,092 in 2023 signifying an increase of one percent.
“It is pertinent to emphasize at this juncture that, out of the total fatalities that occurred in 2024, 411 deaths, representing 7.6 percent of the total deaths were not primarily caused by the crashes but a secondary factor which is the very monster we are fighting today: scooping of fuel from fallen tankers.”