COURTESY VISIT

Latest road transport figures released yesterday by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) indicated that the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja topped the auto crashes list in 2016 nationwide.

Abuja is closely followed by Kaduna and Niger States while Borno and Bayelsa States recorded the least.

The 2016 road transport data also reflected that 11,363 road crashes occurred in the year in review.

A total of 5,053 were killed in the road traffic crashes recorded in the year while 4,696 of the 5,053 killed, representing 93 per cent of the figure were adults.

The remaining 357 people, representing 7 per cent of the figure are children.

Similarly, 3,970 males, representing 79 per cent were also killed in road crashes in 2016 while 1,083 female Nigerians, representing 25 per cent lost their lives.

Speed violation was blamed as the major cause of road crashes in 2016, accounting for 33.86 per cent of the total road crashes reported.

Loss of control and dangerous driving followed closely. Both accounted for 15.43 per cent and 8.53 per cent of the total road crashes recorded.

A total of 30,105 people were injured in the road traffic crashes recorded, with 28,250 of the 30,105 injured. According to the NBS, this represents 94 per cent of the figure who were adults while the remaining 1,855 Nigerians, representing 6 per cent of the figure are children.

Also, 22, 705 males, representing 75 per cent were injured in road crashes in 2016 while 7,400 females or 25 were, injured.

Total vehicle population in Nigeria in 2016 was put at 11,387,185. Commercial vehicles accounted for 53.8 per cent of th total vehicle population in Nigeria in 2016.

Private vehicles accounted for 44.5 per cent, government vehicles accounted for 1.65 and diplomatic vehicles accounted for 0.1 per cent. L-R: Deputy Editor (Daily), THISDAY Newspapers, Mr. Joseph Ushigiale; Chief Operating Officer, Sterling Bank Plc, Mr. Herny Bassey; and Chief Operating Officer, Strategiz Effects Limited, Mr. Friday Atufe, during the team’s courtsey visit to THISDAY Head Office in Lagos... yesterday

In keeping with their threat, aviation sector unions comprising of United Labour Congress (ULC), National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) yesterday picketed Arik Air and grounded the airline’s operations.

The unions accessed the airline’s premises as early as 4a.m. and barricaded the gates despite heavy police presence, attributing the reason for disrupting the airline’s operations to the failure