Transportation is the way people travel and move from one place to another, but it is also one of the many ways to die.

Let’s rank the deadliest means of transportation:

1. Cars and trucks

A lot of people die from road and truck accidents. In Nigeria, 2,717 total road accidents were reported in Q4 2023, compared to 2,187 in Q3 2023, a 24.23 percent increase. Vehicle failures like the brakes not working or tyres bursting while in transit are some reasons cars and trucks are dangerous.

Driving behaviours such as driving while intoxicated, driving too fast for the conditions of the road, and distracted driving account for a large portion of car accidents.

2. Motorcycles

Motorcycles are risky, especially when they are used without a helmet. Motorcycle riding is a contributing factor in 50% to 57% of traffic accidents worldwide. In Malaysia, motorbikes make up 47% of all registered vehicles, and 120,156 crashes have been reported. The Federal Road Safety Corps in Gombe State says it has recorded 377 motorcycle accidents between January and December 2022.

3. Walking

Walking may seem like a safe mode of transportation, but statistics show that it is highly vulnerable, especially when hit by automobiles. In 2013, 4,735 pedestrians were killed and 150,000 were injured in the United States.

4. Bicycles

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), 720 people died in bicycle crashes in 2014. The use of a helmet is a major factor in bicycle safety. The percentage of fatalities that did not wear a helmet was unclear; however, it was at least 60%. Helmet-wearers have an 85% lower probability of dying.

Even with reduced death rates, riding a bicycle still carries some danger because it’s one of the main ways that sports or leisure activities cause brain injuries.

5. Boats

Between 2019 and 2023, Nigeria recorded 71 fatal boat accidents with at least 1,072 fatalities, according to our compilation of reported figures, The Premium Times reports. The reason for this is that many people don’t use life jackets or know how to swim.

6. Trains and subways

The majority of these deaths occurred at grade crossings or as trespassers. Similar to trains, which are thought to be reasonably safe for passengers, pedestrians near tube tracks and platforms are usually the cause of fatalities. According to the US Department of Transportation, there were 769 railroad-related deaths in 2014.

7. Planes and helicopters

These are the safest means of transport worldwide, with fewer casualties than other means, but whenever a plane or helicopter crashes, there are few survivors.

A former Minister of Labour and Chairman of First Bank Nigeria, Ajibola Afonja is dead, at 82.

A family source said the Oyo-born Prince passed away, on Sunday night, at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State.

He was Chairman of the Board of Directors of First Bank Plc and was also appointed as Minister of Labour under the interim government of Earnest Shonekan.

Afonja was the chairman of Integrated Dimensional System and many other companies.

He attended Kingston University, Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey, United Kingdom where he bagged a degree in Accounting in 1970.

After he graduated from the university, he started work with John Mowlem & Co, a UK-based construction firm with notable works at Buckingham Palace, the House of Commons, 10 Downing Street, Westminster Abbey, London Bridge, the Manchester Metrolink and the Dublin Port Tunnel, and a host of others.

He first served as a subsidiary company accountant between 1971-1972 and then became the Group Assets Management Accountant in 1972, a position he held for three years before he returned to Nigeria in 1974.

A prominent Oyo socio-political group, Oyo Global Forum through its chairman, Taiwo Adebayo wrote while mourning his passage, “On this dark day in Oyo, we mourn the loss of Ajibola Afonja, former Labour Minister and Chairman of First Bank Nigeria, who passed away on Sunday night, aged 82.

“Although, a national figure with tremendous influence, he was particularly light for the Oyo community where he made pioneering efforts as an industrialist. His legacy of generosity and open-heartedness touched countless lives, and his presence will be profoundly missed.

“Until his last month, Daddy IDS, as he was affectionately known, as a reference to his manufacturing company, remained hardworking, dedicated to realizing one of the most transformative business visions for the country’s economy. It was the E-Customs project.

“His absence leaves a void that will be difficult to fill, but his spirit of generosity and leadership will continue to inspire us. For all of us that he inspired, we shall honour his memory by carrying forward the values he embodied and continuing his legacy of service and compassion, the values that guide OGF, which he supported during his lifetime.”

The group, therefore, extended its deepest condolences to his family, the entire Oyo community, friends and associates throughout the world during this time of mourning.

President Bola Tinubu has established the presidential committee on climate action and green economic solutions.

Tinubu will lead the committee as the chairman, while Balarabe Abbas, minister of environment, will serve as the vice-chairman.

In a statement on Sunday, Segun Imohiosen, director of information in the office of the secretary to the government of the federation (AGF), said the president also appointed Ajuri Ngelale as the special presidential envoy on climate action.

Ngelale is the special adviser to the president on media and publicity.

The committee is expected to “coordinate and oversee all policies and programmes on climate action and green economic development”.

The statement added that the committee will also “identify, develop, and implement innovative non-oil & non-gas climate action initiatives”.

The committee will coordinate the activities of relevant federal government institutions towards the “attainment of all agreed climate action and green economic objectives and non-oil/non-gas ambitions”.

FULL LIST

(1) President Bola Tinubu – Chairman

(2) Balarabe Abbas Lawal (Minister of Environment) – Vice-Chairman

(3) Ajuri Ngelale (Special Adviser) – Secretary/Special Presidential Envoy

(4) Lazarus Angbazo (CEO, InfraCorp) – Member

(5) Salisu Dahiru (CEO, NCCC) – Member

(6) Michael Ohiani (CEO, ICRC) – Member

(7) Aisha Rimi (CEO, NIPC) – Member

(8) Aminu Umar-Sadiq (CEO, NSIA) – Member

(9) Yusuf Maina-Bukar (CEO, NAGGW) – Member

(10) Abdullahi Mustapha (CEO, ECN) – Member

(11) Abba Abubakar Aliyu (CEO, REA) – Member

(12) Uzoma Nwagba (CEO, CrediCorp) – Member

(13) Khalil Halilu (CEO, NASENI) – Member

(14) Fatima Shinkafi (CEO, SMDF) – Member

(15) Bala Bello (Deputy Governor, CBN) – Member

(16) Lolade Abiola (UN SE4ALL) – Member

(17) Teni Majekodunmi (NCCC Adviser) – Member

(18) Representative, Federal Ministry of FCT – Member

(19) Representative, Federal Ministry of Finance – Member

(20) Representative, Federal Ministry of Power – Member

(21) Representative, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade & Investment – Member

(22) Representative, Federal Ministry of Water Resources – Member

(23) Representative, Federal Ministry of Agriculture & Food Security – Member

(24) Representative, Federal Inland Revenue Service – Member

(25) Representative, Nigeria Customs Service – Member