Determined to reduce the rate of road crashes in Nigeria, International Breweries Plc (IBPLC) has begun moving to build a safe driving culture and promote safety on Nigerian roads.
The firm, through the intervention of its parent company, the AB InBev Foundation, has installed 35 cautionary road signs and donated 1,000 reflective jackets to the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) to enhance safe driving.
The interventions were executed in key cities that host some of the country’s busiest highways including Lagos, Port Harcourt, Abuja, Ilesha, Onitsha, and Sagamu/Abeokuta.
Speaking on the initiative, Temitope Oguntokun, corporate affairs and regulatory director at International Breweries PLC, said the company is deeply committed to the safety of lives and property as a socially responsible organisation.
“By working closely with the FRSC, we want to address critical road safety challenges and reduce preventable accidents across Nigeria’s highways. This initiative is a testament to our dedication to sustainable development and the well-being of our society.
“The partnership demonstrates how collaborative efforts can significantly enhance road safety in the country. The reflective jackets and cautionary signages will go a long way in saving lives and improving compliance with road safety regulations,” she explained.
Road crashes remain a critical challenge in Nigeria with the FRSC reporting a staggering 10,617 road traffic crashes in 2023 alone. One of the primary challenges and causes of these accidents is limited public awareness of the dangers of speeding, drunk driving and among others.
Through the strategic placement of cautionary signages and the provision of reflective jackets, there would be enhanced road visibility across highly motored locations that are more prone to accidents in the country.
Receiving the donation, Kehinde Hamzat, Federal Road Safety Commission’s Sector Commander at Lagos State Sector Command, commended the efforts of International Breweries and the AB InBev Foundation.
In addition, International Breweries also partnered with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), and drivers who regularly ply the busy roads.
Olufemi Akanbi, a Lagos-based driver lauded IBPLC for the initiative, describing the signages as an important reminder of the fragility of life and the need to stay away from alcohol while driving.
According to the FRSC data reported by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), about 21,670 people were involved in accidents in 2020, recording 885 fatalities compared to the 2024 data that reported that about 19,461 people were involved in accidents with about 693 fatalities.
The decline in fatalities on Nigerian roads is significant as IBPLC and FRSC continue to deepen safety initiatives while placing premium value on people’s lives. It is in line with both firm’s commitment to creating a positive impact in the communities where they operate.
