By Ekunkonye Junior in Abuja
As the Accident Prevention and Rescue Initiative (APRI), clocks 20 years, the organization says its focus remains saving lives and making Nigerian roads safer through advocacy, education and direct intervention.
Speaking during a media parley, Executive Director Amb. Fidelis Nnadi said APRI was established in September 2006 to complement government efforts in road safety, emergency rescue, policy advocacy and Motor Vehicle Administration reform.
He explained that the founding objective was to achieve safer roads through structured vehicle administration and effective traffic management, and that this cannot happen without collaboration.
Nnadi noted that APRI has worked closely with FRSC, VIOs, State Ministries of Transport and transport unions to reduce crashes and ensure compliance with traffic regulations across the country.
One of APRI’s pioneering achievements was hosting Nigeria’s first international conference on Motor Vehicle Administration in 2010 at the Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja. The event, supported by FCTA and DRTS-FCT, recommended adoption of global best practices for vehicle administration.
The NGO also played a leading role in forming the Coalition of Road Safety NGOs in Nigeria and has conducted capacity building for enforcement officers in multiple States.
In the area of implementation, APRI was engaged as Consultants for the Special Trade License Regulation in FCT and other States. The policy targets informal motor vehicle dealers and service providers to ensure documentation, security profiling and vehicle roadworthiness.
In Abia State, APRI carried out traffic control in Umuahia and Aba, public enlightenment for riders and drivers, and advocated for technology-driven vehicle inspection now being implemented nationwide. In FCT, it led sensitization in Apo, Katampe and Kubwa motor parks and joined ember-month patrols on Abuja-Keffi and Abuja-Lokoja highways.
Nnadi recalled APRI’s 2011 protest on Abuja-Keffi Expressway following a crash that killed over 20 people, which led to ministerial restrictions on tankers during peak hours. He said APRI will continue campaigns like “Safe to School” and “Don’t Drink and Drive” in partnership with FRSC.
He advised Nigerians to be road safety conscious, stressing that “lives of road users should matter.” APRI is also calling on well-meaning Nigerians and organizations to donate ambulances and support volunteer road safety groups to strengthen emergency response nationwide.
