Civil society organisations and non-governmental organisations have urged African governments to take decisive and coordinated action to reduce road traffic deaths across the continent.

The call was made during the inaugural General Assembly of the African Association of Road Safety Lead Agencies (AARSLA) held in Lusaka, Zambia, where Nigeria was elected as secretary and host of the AARSLA Secretariat.

A statement on Friday by Yusuf Suberu, the representative of Nigerian CSOs and NGOs, described the position as one that confers a strategic leadership role on Nigeria in advancing road safety reforms across Africa.

Mr Suberu said that the assembly brought together leading road safety authorities, government ministries, transport agencies and international development partners.

He stated that the goal was to unify efforts to reduce road traffic fatalities and promote regional safety standards, public education, policy coordination, and infrastructure improvements.

Mr Suberu said the alarming rate of road crashes and fatalities across the continent demands more than policy statements.

According to him, it requires urgent, inclusive and sustained action.

“This is not the time for rhetoric. Road safety must be approached as a humanitarian, developmental, and public health emergency. Governments must partner with civil society and act now to save lives,” he said.

Mr Suberu stressed that CSOs and NGOs, with their close ties to grassroots communities, were essential in implementing behavioural change campaigns, post-crash support services, youth education and local enforcement collaboration. This, he said, was especially in Nigeria’s underserved communities.

Mr Suberu praised the corps marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Shehu Mohammed, for his unwavering leadership in modernising road safety in Nigeria, ensuring that civil society voices were represented at the policymaking table.

The FRSC corps marshal, who led Nigeria’s delegation to the assembly, reaffirmed the country’s readiness to lead with distinction.

Mr Mohammed noted that Nigeria’s rich experience in regulating road use, vehicle inspection, crash response and civic education gives it a unique advantage.

He also cited the FRSC’s success in deploying crash data systems, vehicle inspection protocols and faith-based safety campaigns.

He commended the collaborative role of civil society in advancing Nigeria’s road safety gains and pledged to continue fostering such partnerships at the continental level.

(NAN)