Between January and October 2024, at least 140 people were killed in road accidents in various parts of Ogun State, according to PUNCH Metro on Wednesday.
Seni Ogunyemi, the Commandant General of the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency, shared this information at a training event for senior officers in Abeokuta, the state capital, on Wednesday.
Ogunyemi mentioned that the victims included 110 adults and 30 children. He also pointed out that most of the accidents were caused by human mistakes.
He explained, “From January to October 2024, there were 334 road accidents recorded by TRACE and the police, involving 508 adults and 30 children injured. During the same period, 110 adults and 30 children died. In comparison, in 2023, there were 524 accidents, with 718 adults and 53 children injured, and 132 adults and 18 children lost their lives. Nearly 90% of the crashes were due to human errors.”
Ogunyemi emphasized that the data showed a decrease in accidents in 2024 compared to 2023.
He added, “There was a 36.26% decrease in the number of accidents, a 29.25% drop in the number of injured adults, and a 43.2% decrease in the number of injured children. The number of adult fatalities decreased by 33.33%. Overall, the number of accidents dropped by 36.26%, and fatalities dropped by 30.22% and 18.67% in 2024, thanks to TRACE’s ongoing advocacy, rescue efforts, and law enforcement.”
Reacting to these numbers, the Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, encouraged traffic officers to use digital tools to manage traffic more effectively in the state.
She explained that digital platforms would help with real-time traffic reporting, simplify management, and improve data collection.
“We need to update our system to keep up with modern needs. This includes adopting new technology, working together, and earning the public’s trust. Managing traffic today goes beyond just enforcing rules. It needs to be based on data-driven strategies,” Salako-Oyedele said.
She also suggested that TRACE explore partnerships with tech companies for innovative solutions, like mobile apps to report traffic incidents in real-time.
