The federal government on Thursday decried that the number of school children involved in road accidents in the country are increasing at an alarming rate, but not much is being done to tackle the trend.
Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) shows that 7 percent of Nigerians killed in road accidents in 2019 were children.
Adamu Adamu, minister of education noted that road accidents are common amongst school children in public schools in the country, especially low-income families whose children do not enjoy the luxury of being driven to school by parents, guardians or afford the use of School buses.
Adamu said this at the national launch of the ‘Go to school, Be seen, Be safe’ and unveiling of the Children Accident Prevention Initiative’s reflective jackets for school children in Abuja on Thursday, which was done in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education and supported by the National Union of Road Transport.
The initiative targets to kit about 40 million school children of public, unity and private pupils who trek to and from school daily.
“Occasionally, some children that trek through busy roads to their schools are knocked down, injured, maimed for life, or even killed instantly. We are aware of the emotional trauma parents go through and the socio-economic impact therein”, the minister said.
Adamu, who was represented by Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, minister of state for education, explained that the unveiling of customised not-for-sale reflective jackets, armbands and other accident prevention infrastructure is designed to primarily aid the protection of school children from road accidents associated with motor vehicles, motorcycles, and tricycles while crossing busy network of roads to and from their respective schools.
The minister therefore assured that the Ministry will encourage the expansion of this programme throughout the thirty-six states plus FCT, the local government areas and all wards in Nigeria to ensure inclusion.
He also informed that the programme encompasses a phased kiting of school children within the ages of 4-14 years in selected schools at federal and state levels, with customised reflective jackets and armbands are free of charge.
Sonny Echono, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education said that the initiative will before beneficial to children in the rural and semi-urban areas.
He said, “Statistics show that the number of school children involved in road-related accidents is increasing at an alarming rate without any commensurate improvement in preventive measures especially the availability of first Aid facilities to cater for the victims.
“Hence, this initiative is, therefore, a timely well-conceived venture towards reducing the trend of injuries and death involving school children to and from school daily. Kitting school children with reflective jackets to ensure visibility is very important.”
The chairman House Committee on Basic Education, Zakari Mohammed, while commemorating with children on the 2021 children day, expressed concern over the number of out-of-school children numbering up to 13 million and number of children in captivity, as well as those that have died in the hands of terrorists, bandits and other criminals.
“Today gives us room to reflect on the right of our children to good education, social security, safety, and love. More needs to be done. Today is an opportunity for government at all levels to re-educate themselves to the implementation of child rights Act”, he said.
According to him, there is a need to revamp reform and reposition basic education in Nigeria.
He however commended Nigerian children who have managed to excel despite the challenges of Nigeria’s school system.
He said, “Our children have excelled in sports, arts, science, mathematics; at regional, national and global competitions, we celebrate them and encourage them to never give up.”
