The eWorld Forum organised by eWorld Magazine, last week in Lagos, joined the rest of the world to celebrate the World Telecoms and Information Society Day (WTISD), with a focus on road safety.
With the theme: ‘Imperative for a Truly Digital Citizen: ICTs and Improving Road Safety’, the forum highlighted the importance of technology tools in improving road safety among Nigerians.
Lagos State Command Corps Operation of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr. Kunle Bello, who represented Corps Marshal and Chief Executive, Mr. Osita Chidoka, delivered one of the keynote addresses.
Speaking through an Assistant Corps Command Operation, Lagos State Command of the FRSC, Mr. Joseph Udoabba, Bello said global status report on road safety 2013, revealed that there are 3,400 road traffic deaths every day, which translates to a minimum of two deaths per minute.
He added that the report showed 30 to 95 road traffic inflicted injuries and fatalities every minute, and about 31 pedestrians losing their lives every hour.
Bello said although the figures were alarming, the situation could largely be preventable or avoidable with the application of cautions and the use of modern technology tools.
“Incidentally, projections indicate that the figures will unfortunately increase by about 65 per cent over the next 20 years unless there is new commitment to prevention,” Bello said.
According to him, a paper on “Federal Road Safety Corps – The journey so far” delivered the FRSC helmsman, Osita Chidoka, declared that between 1970 and 1980 there were 317,838 road traffic crashes resulting in 65,972 deaths in Nigeria, and that in 2011 alone, the average number of road traffic deaths per state was 118 in 129 road crashes per state, on the average.
“Oyo State had the highest figure of about 300 road traffic deaths in about 475 crashes in 2011,” Bello said.
He called on Nigerians to be careful to observe all traffic rules while driving. “The promotion and development of intelligent transport systems that utilise ICT footprints to control and monitor traffic flows thereby preventing traffic accidents should be encouraged,” he said.
Executive Vice President of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Eugene Juwah, who was represented by the Director, Public Affairs at NCC, Mr. Tony Ojobo, said the commission had partnered various bodies in creating awareness on the danger in using mobile phones while driving. He called on Nigerians to desist from making or receiving calls with the mobile phone, while driving, in order to save their lives and that of others.
Director General of the National Information Technology Agency (NITDA), Prof. Cleopas Angaye, who was represented by a senior staff member of the agency, Mr. Charles Omoro, decried the situation were Nigerians were yet to take full advantage of ICTs in addressing road safety. He said there was need for Nigerians to consider safety while driving and advised road users not to abuse technology tools that are meant to improve lives.
President of Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON), Mr. Chris Uwaje, who was represented by an official of ISPON, Mr Paul Uzoechna, said mobility remained a key factor in man’s activities and plays a major role in his productivity and advancement.
“In modern living, it has become imperative for one to travel distances and they need safety on the roads. Nigeria should device innovative means built upon indigenous technology to increase the efficiency of mobility. Our challenges are specific and we are in the best position to develop solutions to address these challenges,” Uwaje said.
Publisher, eWorld Magazine, organisers of the forum, Mr. Aaron Ukodie, said the WTISD celebration was held to create awareness on the possibilities that the use of the Internet and ICT tools could bring societies and economies together and bridge the digital divide that exists between them.
Source: Thisdaylive.com