The President of the Cyclists Federation of Nigeria, Alhaji Mohammed Nur Sherif has said that pedestrians account for a quarter of weekly global road crash fatalities of 5,000 deaths which according to him, can be attributed to "continous decline in attention by successive governments at all levels in the provision of infrastructures and facilities for non motorized transportation".
Speaking through the Cycling Federation of Nigeria Vice President, Alhaji Abubakar Potiskum at special walking/cycling exercise organized by the Federal Road Safety Corps to mark the second United Nations Global Road Safety Week with theme "Pedestrian Safety", Alhaji Sherif recalled that the week offers a unique opportunity to draw attention to the safety of pedestrians as recommended by the UN General Assembly.
He also said that "the rapid motorization of cities and the tendency in recent decades to favor private motorized transport leaves pedestrians and cyclists at increased risk of death, injury and disability. Many of those killed are children and the elderly" adding that the continous neglect of cycling in terms of provision of bicycle lanes, facilities, under funding and unnecessary attention to motorized transportation has led to the near absence of cycling in the cities and towns. He also said that improved consciousness on the benefits of cycling will have a positive impact on the number of cyclists in Nigeria which will in turn improve health status, reduce pollution and traffic congestion on the roads.
Also speaking, the Representative of the Minister of Health and Focal Person for the United Nations dec ade of action for road safety, Dr. Sydney Ibeanusi, urged government officials and public servants to engage more in jogging and cycling in order to ensure optimal performance and improved service delivery. He added that the week long programme was in line with the United Nations' drive to ensure global safety at all levels of government and civil society groups by the year 2020.
In his own remarks, the Representative of the FRSC Corps Marshal and Chief Executive, who is the Deputy Corps Marshal, Operations, Boboye Oyeyemi identified pedestrians and cyclists among vulnerable road users and urged government at all levels to consider these category of road users in road construction through the provision of appropriate road markings, signage and furniture to ensure the safety of these exposed road users, in line with the United Nations resolutions.
The Corps Marshal also indicated the FRSC continued commitment to partner with relevant stakeholders towards reducing fatality and crashes by 30% and 20% respectively in 2013.
The walking/cycling exercise attracted many participants drawn from the FRSC, Cycling Federation, Ministry of Health, Nicon Insurance PLC , the Military and Para-Military
Via: Federal Road Safety Commission [FRSC] - Official Press Release