LASTMA Urges Clerics to Promote Road Safety in Sermons

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has urged religious leaders to emphasize road safety in their sermons, following a surge in road accidents in Lagos, according to The Guardian Nigeria News. LASTMA’s executive chairman, Olajide Obayan, made the call during a meeting with religious leaders in Lagos. He noted that the collaboration between the religious leaders and LASTMA would help reduce the increasing number of road accidents in the state. Obayan highlighted that religious leaders have a significant influence on their followers and can use this influence to promote road safety. The Guardian Nigeria News reported that the meeting was attended by representatives from various religious organizations, including the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN), and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN). The newspaper did not specify when the meeting took place or provide data on the increase in road accidents in Lagos. According to Obayan, the collaboration will involve regular sensitization campaigns and the distribution of road safety materials to places of worship. The Guardian Nigeria News reported that this is not the first time LASTMA has sought the cooperation of religious leaders to address road safety issues. In 2020, LASTMA partnered with the Lagos State Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to launch a road safety awareness campaign. The collaboration aimed to sensitize drivers and passengers on the importance of adhering to traffic rules and regulations to ensure road safety. The Guardian Nigeria News did not provide an update on the outcomes of the 2020 campaign. LASTMA’s call to religious leaders comes as the Nigerian government steps up efforts to address the country’s alarming road safety record. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Nigeria accounted for about 12% of the estimated 1.35 million road traffic deaths worldwide in 2019. The WHO also reported that road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death among people aged 5-29 years in Nigeria. In response, the Nigerian government launched the National Road Safety Strategy (NRSS) in 2018, with a focus on improving road infrastructure, enforcing traffic rules, and increasing public awareness about road safety.