For Monica Dongban-Mensem, every road crash hits close to home.
She lost her son in a road accident, which motivated her to establish the Kwapda’as Road Safety Demand (KRSD) Foundation in 2011.
Now, she is joining forces with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to open a trauma centre for victims and their families.
Tackling A National Crisis
At a press briefing in Abuja, FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, explained that the centre will provide both medical and psychological care while setting a national benchmark for post-crash support.
He added that road crashes kill 1.2 million people globally each year, disproportionately affecting women and children.
Moreover, Nigeria faces one of Africa’s highest road traffic death rates.
FRSC reported more than 1,600 deaths and over 8,000 injuries in the first quarter of 2024 alone.
Dongban-Mensem emphasised, “This is not just a statistic—thousands of families experience devastation every year,” and she called for stronger measures against speeding, drunk driving, and the non-use of seatbelts and helmets.
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Giving Victims A Voice
In addition, the announcement introduced the International Road Crash Victims’ African Conference (IRCVAC) 2025.
KRSD will host the conference in November to mark its 14th anniversary.
Dongban-Mensem highlighted that the event will give victims a platform to share their experiences and shape solutions, aligning with global initiatives such as Vision Zero and the Safe Systems Approach, which assert that no road death is acceptable.
Through the trauma centre and IRCVAC, FRSC and KRSD aim to turn grief into action.
They plan to provide care, drive advocacy, and create hope for safer roads across Nigeria.
