UN Global Road Safety Week Promotes Walking and Cycling For Safer Roads -Watch Video
The United Nations road safety week kicked off in Abuja on Thursday with focus on walking and cycling as strategy for safety on the roads.
At the national orientation agency, the organisers, Road Accident Prevention Network Center and major ministries concerned with road safety said there was a need to promote a culture of walking and cycling to reduce accidents and promote public health.
Speaking at the launch held at the National Orientation Agency headquarters the chief executive of Road Accidents Prevention Network, Prince Ogu, said the campaign for 2025 seeks to promote safer walking and cycling practices to reduce road accidents, enhance public health, and foster overall road safety across Nigeria. He suggested the licensing of cyclists as a means to improve training and documentation.
Mr. Abubakar Usman who represented the federal ministry of Transportation underscored the need for sustained dialogue on road safety and the creation of policies that improve pedestrian and cyclist access to roads.
Henrietta Onyeneke, Director of Narcotics and Drug Abuse Division at the Federal Ministry of Health, spoke of the Ministry’s efforts to align with WHO policies by formulating strategies against alcohol consumption to curb intoxicated driving. She also advocated for greater public awareness on the health benefits of walking and cycling.
Also present was DCC Chioma Ekeocha, representing the FCT Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), CC CI Mutaa. She stressed the potential of the initiative to drastically reduce accident rates, stimulate the economy through increased bicycle sales, and called for dedicated cycling lanes. She clarified that licensing cyclists was not currently under consideration.
The National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, represented by Rufia Mojie, assured that cyclists would not face fines or ticketing, adding that their officials are well-trained to support vulnerable road users.
Authorities remain hopeful that the campaign will significantly cut down road traffic incidents involving pedestrians and cyclists, while encouraging more Nigerians to embrace walking and cycling as safe, healthy, and eco-friendly alternatives to vehicular movement.
