Prudential Zenith Life Insurance has partnered with the Red Cross and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to reduce road crashes in Nigeria. According to FRSC data, the first half of 2023 saw a 14% reduction in road crashes, injured victims, and a 15.5% decrease in fatalities compared to the same period in 2022. Despite the improvements, 5,700 crashes resulted in 2,850 fatalities and 16,716 injuries.
Speaking at the Safe Steps Road Safety Campaign stakeholder engagement meeting in Abuja, Prudential Zenith’s Chief Transformation and Strategy Officer, Cherice Ige, emphasized the company’s commitment to saving lives. She noted that as a life insurance provider, the company’s goal extends beyond business, aiming to reduce road-related deaths and foster safer communities.
The initiative includes awareness campaigns designed to educate road users, families, and communities on traffic rules and safety practices. Ige announced that the program would initially launch in Lagos and Abuja, cities with a combined population of over 20 million, before expanding nationwide.
Usman Emmanuel Bassi, Managing Director of Red Cross Nigeria, stressed the importance of educating road users and stakeholders in the transportation sector. He highlighted plans to provide first aid training for drivers, as they are often the first responders during accidents. The program will focus on Lagos and Abuja for its initial six-month phase, starting January 2025, before rolling out to other states.
FRSC representative Corps Commander Danladi Boyi Apaji attributed the high rate of crashes to driver negligence. He urged the public to adhere strictly to traffic regulations, emphasizing that most crashes are preventable. Apaji lauded Prudential Zenith for the initiative and reiterated FRSC’s commitment to collaborating with stakeholders to improve road safety and save lives.
