ROAD AND VEHICLE SAFETY IN NIGERIA: WHICH SHOULD COME FIRST?
Picture Credit: Oriental Times When traveling across Nigeria’s major highways, one cannot help but notice government officials stopping vehicles to check their roadworthiness. Yet, a pressing question arises: which should be prioritized—safe roads or safe vehicles? Sadly, both remain in deplorable condition. Vehicle Safety Ideally, vehicles should be in proper working condition before being allowed on the road, whether for private or commercial use. Unfortunately, this is rarely the case. Many passengers have been stranded because vehicles lacked spare tyres, or carried ones that were unusable. Road Safety Officers and Vehicle Inspection Officers, tasked with enforcing these standards, often neglect their duty—choosing instead to collect bribes and allow unsafe vehicles to continue operating. Equally troubling is the issue of missing or fake vehicle documents. Officials routinely stop cars to check particulars, yet passengers frequently witness them accep...