Rabat – Morocco invests an average annual investment of MAD 18 billion ($1.8 billion) to upgrade its road infrastructure, Minister of Equipment Nizar Baraka said on Wednesday.
The minister made his remarks at a national symposium on road safety in Rabat.
During the meeting, Baraka said that the road operation and safety programs are at the “forefront of the ministry’s concerns.”
He said that the country dedicates a special annual budget averaging over one billion over the past five years.
Minister of Transport Mohamed Abdeljalil also commented on Morocco’s infrastructure projects at the symposium, noting that the North African country adopted a national road safety strategy for 2017-2026 with a focus on securing road infrastructure and achieving significant progress at different levels.
Despite the efforts, Abdeljalil acknowledged recurring challenges, including frequent road accidents throughout the country.
He said that this requires profound reflection on innovative mechanisms based on an objective assessment of all measures taken to address the situation.
For Abdeljalil, the principle of road safety must be a priority, recalling that the road is a “shared space that must guarantee the right to move safely for all categories of road users.”
According to recent data from Morocco’s General Directorate for National Security (DGSN), at least 16 people have been killed during fatal road accidents that took place between June 24-30.
At least 2,446 others were injured, and 97 of the injured were reported to be in critical conditions.
DGSN pointed out that these accidents were mainly due to drivers inattention, speeding, as well as failures to keep a safe distance from pedestrians.
