By Moses Akaigwe
The Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Dauda Ali Biu, has decried the use of substandard tyres as well as excessive speeding by drivers on Nigerian roads.
He warns motorists to shun negligence and comply with maximum safety requirements.
The FRSC boss was reacting to the unfortunate crashes that claimed the lives of 18 people in two different locations of Gaya junction in Kano State, and Tashar Yari, Kaduna State.
Investigation reports submitted to the Corps Marshal regarding the incidents show that the Gaya Junction crash involved a total of two vehicles, a Toyota Hiace bus and a Hijet bus registered as KTG 190 XB & KTG 501YG, respectively, which occurred on Saturday, April 19, 2024.
The report also revealed that the Gaya crash which was occasioned by speed limit violation, tyre burst, and involved 28 people comprising 17 male adults, five female adults, two male children and four female children.
From the number, 16 victims comprising of five male adults, five female adults, two male children and four female children were injured while 12 persons, including the driver, all male adults, got killed.
FRSC rescue team that conducted the rescue operations took the injured victim to Gaya General hospital for emergency medical attention, while the dead bodies have been deposited at the morgue of the same hospital.
Meanwhile, the Tashan Yari crash which also occurred on Saturday, involved a total of 57 people, comprising 30 male adults, 22 female adults, and five female children. From this number also, 30 victims were injured, including 12 male adults, 15 female adults and three female children as six of the victims all male them adults, were reported killed.
The crash which involved a trailer was caused by speed limit violation, use of worn out tyre that eventually led to loss of control.
The injured victims and the corpses were conveyed to General Hospital Makarfi, Kaduna State.
The Corps Marshal has also directed Commanding Officers to expedite action towards enforcing compliance on road traffic violations.