The Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola has pledged his commitment to train Judicial officers on handling road safety cases.
The CJN made the commitment in Abuja at the annual Road Safety Press Briefing by an NGO, Kwapda’as Road Safety Demand Foundation, KRSD.
Justice Ariwoola stressed the need to train Judicial officers on road safety cases bearing in mind the effects to victims, family members and dependants.
He noted that, “the training will be organised in synergy with the National Judicial Institute, the Road Safety Commission and the KRSD foundation from lower courts to trial higher courts.”
Assistance to Victims
Justice Ariwoola who assured support for the NGO, called on Nigerians to provide assistance to victims of roads accident in order to safe lives.
“I will plead with the generality of the public to be up and doing in providing assistance to victims of roads accident. If immediate attention is provided many victims will not die,” he said.
The President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Mensen was worried by the carnage of roads accidents associated to reckless driving, over speeding, over loading and conditions of roads not only in Nigeria but some African countries.
She established a road safety NGO known as the Kwapda’as Road Safety Demand Foundation KRSD to synergize with other stakeholders and make roads safer for users.
As a victim of a road crash who lost a son, Justice Mensen, noted with concern the need for road safety stakeholders to form a synergy to implement the 2022 political declaration on improving road safety among the general Public.
Investment for Road Safety Development
While advocating for an urgent review of the National Road Safety policy in Nigeria, justice Mensen called for More investment for road safety development in low and middle income countries in order to achieve the global plan decade of action for road safety 2021-2030.
She said, “victims support is one of the four intervention drivers of this foundation, there is an urgent need for non – medical trauma management center for victims and relatives of the victims. We aspire to set up a victim’s trauma center to counsel the victims to restore their emotional equilibrium in addition to medical care.”
Also, former Minister of Aviation Mr. Osita Chidoka called on the Nigerian government to implement the inclusion of road safety subjects into the curriculum of Nigeria’s education.
He noted that road safety was a business of everybody.
The Acting Corps Marshall of the Federal Road Safety Commission, Mr Dauda Ali promised continues synergy with the NGO in order to ensure roads accidents are reduced to the barest minimum.
Confidence Okwuchi
