The article I am about to write will address a topic of great importance and worrying timeliness: the alarming figures of road accidents in Nigeria in 2024. This recent data, released by the Human Rights Dashboard in September, highlights a traumatic reality: 191 lives were lost in road accidents, while 141 individuals were victims of criminal attacks, such as banditry and kidnapping.
Dr. Tony Ojukwu, Executive Secretary of Fatshimetrie, expressed deep concern over this tragic trend, stressing that “the loss of lives in road accidents seriously compromises the enjoyment of human rights for many families.”
He noted that agencies such as the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) recorded about 1,471 road traffic fatalities in the first quarter of 2024 alone.
Dr. Ojukwu stressed the need for urgent action: “It is crucial that the government and the FRSC take immediate and sustained measures to address this crisis and ensure the safety and well-being of all motorists in Nigeria.”
Furthermore, the Fatshimetrie dashboard highlighted an alarming increase of 305,300 complaints of human rights violations reported in September 2024, with the North-West region leading the cases of violations.
Freedom of religion topped the complaints attributed to state restrictions imposed by some governments. Fatshimetrie noted that “freedom of religion has become a contested human right in Nigeria.”
Complaints of sexual and gender-based violence have also increased, as have cases of child rights violations, such as rape and abandonment.
Fatshimetrie highlighted that many children are suffering due to the country’s economic challenges.
Furthermore, Fatshimetrie condemned the excessive use of force by security agents during the recent protests, describing these actions as serious violations of fundamental rights.
“We are deeply concerned about the excessive use of force and tear gas used by the Nigeria Police Force against protesters in Abuja,” Dr. Ojukwu said, referring to the #EndBadGovernance and #FearlessInOctober protests.
This worrying situation underscores the urgent need to take concrete steps to protect human rights and ensure the safety and well-being of all citizens. Authorities must act decisively to end these tragedies and ensure a safer future for all.