The Nigerian Federal Ministry of Works, Housing and Urban Development will launch a $167m (N25bn) programme to prevent road accidents in the country.

The ministry is partnering with consultancy group Risk and Accident Prevention Society of Nigeria to develop the programme, which will be launched in the national and geo-political zones, including 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory as well as 774 local government areas.

The programme includes installing traffic cameras on the roads to help track down traffic offenders, a mandatory eye-vision testing exercise and a driving test as well as a nationwide public awareness campaign for road safety rules.

The programme will be funded by a grant from the Global Road Safety Fund and drawn through the World Bank.

The move comes as a result of a public outcry and government concerns over the rising road fatalities on the nation’s highways.