The Sierra Leone Road Transport Authority is under studying the Federal Road Safety Corps with a view to replicate its achievement in road traffic safety management.
The Chief Executive Officer of the authority, Dr. Sarah Bendu announced this on Saturday in Abuja at this month's edition of the Corps' walking and jogging exercise with the theme: Walking and Jogging for Productive Population"
According to her, "The FRSC has taken giant strides in road safety management and traffic administration which has positively inspired and motivated other countries in West Africa". She added "along the West African region, we find out that when it comes to road safety, the FRSC is doing well".
In view of this, "We want to replicate what we have seen here in our country, they have been in existence for over 25 years and we are just coming up,'' she said.
Bendu, who was the special guest at the occasion, called for collaboration among the region's road traffic agencies so as to become a force to reckon with in road safety management.
Quoting a United Nations report, she said that Africa accounts for 98 per cent of global road traffic crashes, which calls for concerted actions at all level of government within the region to reverse this trend.
She called for concerted efforts to reduce accidents by 50 per cent in 20:2020 in line with the United Nation's decade of action plan.
" When we talk about West Africa Road Safety Organisation, we really want to see how best West Africa can be a force to reckon with when it comes to road safety issues.The global report says that 98 per cent of road traffic crashes take place in Africa, we want to change that trend come 20:2020 in line with the UN global action plan,'' she said.
Another guest and Chairman of the National Population Commission, Mr. Festus Odimegwu, urged the Federal Government to make regular exercise compulsory for all Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
"We intend to advise Mr President to ensure that all the MDAs engage in exercise because the cost effect cannot be under estimated, it also improves the mental and physical alertness of every individual'' he said.
Represented by Alhaji Zakari Umar, Chairman, Population Management Committee, he noted that exercise was a veritable tool for national development as it was capable of making the people healthier and productive.
"Empirical evidence has shown that regular physical activities have long been used in the treatment and rehabilitation of certain injuries and ailments. It is also cost effective method of improving public health across population,'' he said.
FRSC Corps Marshal and Chief Executive, Osita Chidoka, noted that exercise was necessary to keep fit and make people productive. He identified the monthly exercise as a culture which has come to stay in the Corps as it enhances the productive out put of the FRSC work force especially in the face of managing road traffic issues.
Via: Federal Road Safety Commission [FRSC] - Official Press Release
This would definately make a lot of sense to so many people. Replication of achievements is always a very difficult thing though...