Nigeria recorded a slight decline in road traffic crashes in the first quarter of 2026, but fatalities and injuries from road accidents remained high across the country, according to fresh data released Tuesday by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
The statistics agency said a total of 2,720 road traffic crashes were recorded during the quarter, representing a marginal decrease of 0.40 per cent compared to the 2,731 crashes reported in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Despite the slight improvement, the human toll from the accidents remained significant, with more than 8,500 persons injured and over 1,300 deaths recorded within the three-month period.
The latest road transport data show that 8,575 persons sustained injuries in road crashes during the quarter under review.
Adult males accounted for the highest number of injured persons, with 6,293 cases, representing 73 per cent of the total injuries recorded.
Adult females accounted for 1,800 injuries or 21 per cent, while male children recorded 254 cases and female children 228 cases, with both categories representing three per cent each.
The figures suggest that adult men continued to bear the largest burden of road accidents, both in terms of exposure and casualty levels.
Fatalities arising from road traffic crashes also remained high during the period.
The NBS data shows that 1,347 persons lost their lives in road accidents in the first quarter of 2026.
Adult male victims again accounted for the overwhelming majority of deaths, with 1,045 fatalities representing 78 per cent of total deaths recorded during the quarter.
Adult females recorded 231 deaths or 17 per cent, while male children accounted for 31 deaths and female children 40 deaths.
The figures highlight the continued severity of road transport accidents despite the slight decline in the total number of crashes recorded. (Premium Times)
