THE HIDDEN ECONOMIC DRAIN: A COST EVALUATION OF ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS ON JIMETA-SONG ROAD, ADAMAWA STATE, NIGERIA
Road Traffic Accidents (RTAs) represent a critical yet often unquantified economic burden in Nigeria, diverting scarce resources from national development. This study analyzes the economic cost of RTAs on the critical 75.6km Jimeta-Song road in Adamawa State, a key artery in Northeast Nigeria. Utilizing the Human Capital Approach, data on accident frequency, severity, vehicle damage, and medical costs were collected from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and specialist hospitals for the period between 2016 and 2020. The findings reveal a total of 251 accidents over the five-year period, resulting in an estimated economic cost of ?1.18 billion. Fatal accidents were the most costly category (?633 million), followed by serious (?542 million) and minor accidents (?5.7 million). The analysis identifies the loss of productivity from death and injury as the cost driver, highlighting a severe drain on human capital. The study concludes that RTAs impose a substantial and preventable economic burden, transforming road safety from a social concern into a critical economic development and construction cost management priority. It underscores the urgent need for targeted investments in road safety measures. Recommendations include utilizing the cost data for rigorous Cost-Benefit Analysis to justify infrastructure improvement, stricter enforcement of traffic regulations and the integration of such economic evaluations into standard road project planning to optimize resource allocation and mitigate future losses.
Authors : Ahmad, Z.B. and Usoh, M.A.
Category : Open Access Volume (Issue) : 11(2) Date Uploaded : 5th October 2025