Road Accidents in Nigeria (2021-2023): The Modern Killer

Road traffic accidents in Nigeria are the third-leading cause of overall deaths, the first cause of trauma-related deaths, and the most frequent cause of disability. They also result in increasing numbers of injuries and fatalities.

According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), between Q1 2021 and Q3 2023, there were a staggering 35,000 reported cases of road traffic accidents. These incidents resulted in 16,000 fatalities and over 8,000 fatal cases, painting a bleak picture of road safety in the country. Tragically, more than 1,000 children were among those killed. 

The staggering number of fatalities and incidents piqued my curiosity, prompting me to take a deep dive into the underlying statistics. I was determined to understand why so many deaths were occurring on Nigerian roads. Through this exploration, I uncovered the critical factors contributing to this crisis and the areas that desperately need attention. 

METHODOLOGY

1. Data Collection

   • Source: The data used in this analysis was sourced from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) database. This ensures the data is reliable and comprehensive.

   • Time Frame: The data was collected for the periods from Q1 to Q4 of 2021, Q1 to Q4 of 2022, and Q1 to Q3 of 2023. This time frame provides a broad overview of road traffic accidents over nearly three years.

   • Quarterly Aggregation: The data from each quarter (Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4) of the years 2021 and 2022, and from Q1 to Q3 of 2023, was aggregated to provide a consolidated view of road traffic accidents over these periods.

   • Categorization: Data was categorized by several key metrics, including: the total number of accidents, total fatalities, number of fatal cases, number of children killed, types of vehicles involved, geographical distribution of accidents, etc

2. Data Cleaning

   • I ensured that all data entries were complete and free from significant errors or inconsistencies.

   • Any duplicate record was removed to avoid skewing the analysis

   • All data formats, vehicle types and geographical locations were standardized to ensure uniformity across the dataset.

   • All relevant numerical data were converted into consistent units of measurement.

   • Missing data points were addressed by either imputing values based on trends or excluding incomplete records where appropriate.

3. Data Visualization

   • Power BI Utilization: Power BI was used to create interactive and visually appealing dashboards that present the data in an easy-to-understand format.

   • Dashboard Elements: The dashboards included various elements such as bar charts, pie charts, and maps to represent data on: total accidents and fatalities over the specified periods, breakdown of accidents by vehicle type, regional distribution of accidents, common causes of accidents.

   • Interactive Features: Filters and slicers were incorporated to allow users to interact with the data, such as viewing specific, years or states.

   • Custom Visualizations: Custom visuals were utilized to highlight data points and trends. Visuals used include Cards, Line graph and Bar chart.

FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Cases and Casualties

   • Total Cases: 35,000

   • Fatal Cases: 8,492

   • Serious Cases: 22,000

   • Minor Cases: 5,566

2. Casualties by Demographics

   • Male Adults: 13,000 Deaths

   • Female Adults: 2640 Deaths

   • Male Children: 543 Deaths

   • Female Children: 528 Deaths

3. Top 5 States by Casualties: 

   • Kaduna: over 10,000

   • Ogun: over 8,000

   • FCT: over 8,000

   • Niger: over 6,000

   • Nasarawa: over 6,000

4. Top 5 Causes of Road Traffic Accidents

   • Speeding

   • Tyre Bust

   • Traffic Light Violation

   • Wrongful Overtaking

   • Dangerous Driving

5. Trends in Vehicle Incidents

   • Cars are the leading vehicle type involved in road traffic accidents with over 17,000 incidents

   • Motorcycles are the second leading vehicle type involved in road traffic incidents with over 12,000 incidents

   • Buses are the third highest vehicle type involved in road traffic incidents with over 9,000 incidents. 

Dashboard