As part of efforts to reduce road traffic crashes and enhance safety in urban areas, Ochenuell Mobility in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Transportation has installed low-speed road signs on major roads in Abuja.
The initiative, which aligns with Nigeria’s commitment to the United Nations Global Road Safety goals, was launched with the installation of 30km/h and 20km/h speed limit signs on eight road corridors across the capital city.
The Chief Executive Officer of Ochenuell Mobility, Engr. (Dr.) Emmanuel John, said the intervention was in response to three pressing concerns, including the lack of implementation of the 30km/h urban speed limit approved by the National Council on Transport since 2022.
“We conducted a study on select school zones in the FCT and found that none of the school corridors had posted speed limits, despite being areas where low speed is critical for child safety,” he said.
According to him, law enforcement agencies face challenges in enforcing speed limits when such limits are not visibly posted, leaving both drivers and enforcement officers without clear guidance.
The road signage project was carried out in collaboration with the FCT Transport Secretariat and was commissioned by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Mr. Musa Ibrahim, as part of the activities marking the 8th United Nations Global Road Safety Week.
The commissioning took place on Abidjan Street, Wuse Zone 3, with a follow-up inspection by stakeholders to Constantine Street, Wuse Zone 4.
Dr. John emphasized that speeding accounts for 51 percent of road crashes in Nigeria, with the FCT recording the highest crash rates in the country, primarily due to excessive speed.
“Across Africa, at least 40 percent of road traffic deaths are pedestrians and cyclists, mostly hit by cars. Urban centres are supposed to be safe spaces for walking and cycling, but speeding turns them into dangerous zones,” he added.
He noted that apart from fatalities, speeding contributes to urban noise, increased emissions, and a general decline in city livability.
Ochenuell Mobility called on other stakeholders to support the implementation of low-speed zones, especially around schools and densely populated areas, to save lives and build safer cities.