The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has proposed the establishment of a world-class trauma centre to alleviate the traumatic injuries and conditions of road accident victims and their families.
Speaking at a press conference marking the forthcoming International Road Crash Victims Africa Conference (IRCVAC) in Nigeria, scheduled for November, FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed stated that the proposed world-class trauma centre will be a public-private partnership.
According to the FRSC boss, Nigeria ranks among the countries with the highest road traffic deaths in Africa, with 21.4 deaths per 100,000 people, which was highlighted by the World Health Organization’s Global Status Report on Road Safety 2023.
Mohammed noted that the centre’s establishment has become necessary to provide care for road traffic crash victims and their families, who often suffer from long-term traumatic conditions following accidents.
He said: “What we are planning is a world-class trauma center, not just a trauma center. Already we have sponsors, both public and private, and we believe we are going to get it right.”
Although he didn’t disclose the proposed trauma centre’s location, the FRSC boss noted that despite requiring significant funding, the centre’s design would ensure accessibility for all Nigerians with post-accident traumatic conditions, regardless of distance.
“I want to say that while funding is a consideration, distance won’t be a barrier. Some trauma centers cover vast areas, even thousands of kilometers, using helicopters. For example, the trauma center at Johns Hopkins University in the United States has multiple helicopters and helipads, enabling them to respond to emergencies nationwide
“We are aiming for a similar model – a world-class trauma center that provides top-notch care, regardless of location. And as they say, a journey of 1,000 miles starts with a single step.”
“IRCVAC 2025 is not just an event but a platform for victims and their families,” she said. “It is about ensuring their experiences shape solutions and their voices drive advocacy, in line with the global Vision Zero and Safe Systems Approach, which declare that no road death is acceptable.”
The founder of Kwapda’as Road Safety Demand Foundation (KRSD), Hon. Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, stated that the conference, themed “Gathering Africa and the World for Road Crash Victims,” will be the first African forum exclusively dedicated to supporting road crash victims and their families.
She said the theme reflects our determination to bring together governments, private organisations, civil society, victims’ groups, and the global road safety community to act decisively in reducing the heavy toll of road crashes in Africa.
Dongban-Mensem noted the 2023 WHO figure about crashes in Nigeria reflects thousands of Nigerian families that are devastated every year due to road accidents
(The Nation)
