Road crashes have claimed the lives of 18 people on Thursday and Friday at Gaya Junction in Kano State and Tashar Yari in Kaduna State.
Dauda Biu, the Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps, condemned the use of substandard tyres and excessive speeding by drivers on Nigerian roads following the fatal road crashes.
In a statement signed by the corps spokesperson, Jonas Agwu, on Friday, Biu urged motorists to prioritise safety and comply with regulations.
The Gaya Junction crash which occurred on Friday, according to investigation reports submitted to the Corps Marshal, involved two vehicles, a Toyota Hiace bus and a Hijet bus with number plates KTG 190 XB and KTG 501YG, respectively.
The crash, according to the statement, was caused by speed limit violations and tyre bursts, resulting in injuries to 16 individuals and the loss of 12 lives, including the driver.
The statement explained that the Tashan Yari crash which happened on Thursday involved a total of 57 people, with 30 sustaining injuries and six fatalities, saying that the accident was caused by speed limit violation and the use of worn-out tyres and involved a trailer that lost control.
According to the statement, “The Gaya Junction crash involved a total of two vehicles, a Toyota Hiace Bus and a Hijet bus registered as KTG 190 XB & KTG 501YG, respectively.”
The report, according to the statement, revealed ”that the Gaya crash, which was occasioned by a speed limit violation and a tyre burst, involved 28 people comprising 17 male adults, five female adults, two male children, and four female children.
”From the number, 16 victims, including five male adults, five female adults, two male children, and four female children, were injured, while 12 persons, including the driver, all male adults, were killed.
”On the other hand, the Tashan Yari crash involved a total of 57 people comprising 30 male adults, 22 female adults, and 5 female children, adding that from the number, 30 victims were injured, comprising 12 male adults, 15 female adults, and three female children, as six of the victims, all male adults, were reported killed.
The statement explained that the crash which involved a trailer, was caused by a speed limit violation and the use of worn-out tyres that eventually led to a loss of control.
It said the injured victims were promptly transported to Gaya General Hospital and General Hospital Makarfi for medical attention while the deceased were taken to the respective hospital morgues.
The Corps Marshal instructed Commanding Officers to intensify efforts in enforcing compliance with road traffic regulations to prevent such incidents in the future