By CHRIS OCHAYI
ABUJA—Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, has commenced intensive special patrol of highways across the nation in order to ensure sanity on the roads and curb the spate of avoidable road crashes during this year's Easter celebrations.
Corps Marshal and Chief Executive, of FRSC, Mr. Osita Chidoka, who spoke at the exercise, noted that the corps' mission during the period was to ensure presence of FRSC operatives along the nation's highways for effective traffic management and prompt response to road crashes.
Chidoka added that the exercise formed part of the corps' sustained efforts to build a consistent tradition of enforcing traffic rules and regulations throughout the year .
According to him, "road traffic crashes are avoidable as only obedience to road use best practices will guaranty the safety of all road users."
He said the FRSC as usual would sustain its collaboration with other law enforcement agencies towards ensuring a hitch-free Easter celebration, even as uniform personnel were advised to abstain from flagrant abuse of road traffic regulations, in view of inherent hazards.
He explained further that the special patrol was in line with its renewed determination to reduce the spate of road traffic crashes in the country, usually attributed to the perennial rise in the violation of traffic rules and regulations, especially during festive seasons.
Chidoka said: "The intensive special patrol is aimed at addressing the spate of avoidable road crashes usually associated with surge of human and vehicular traffic across the country and is an all inclusive exercise which will witness intensive patrols, prompt rescue services, strict enforcement of traffic rules and robust public enlightenment campaigns across the nation.
"Details of the objectives of this special exercise include the removal of obstructions from the highways, traffic control/decongestion, public enlightenment campaigns through the distribution of safety handbills and other forms of awareness campaign.
400 people die monthly on Nigerian roads—FRSC
BY CHIDI NKWOPARA
OWERRI—Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, is concerned that Nigeria records an average of 400 road crash fatalities, while no fewer than 700 road users get injured monthly.
The Deputy Corps Marshall, DCM, of FRSC, Mr. Bobaye Oyeyemi, released the staggering figure while addressing stakeholders during the Zonal Stakeholders Conference on Nigerian Road Safety Strategy, NRSS, in Owerri.
He reasoned that the top priority accorded to road transportation in Nigeria had been attributed for the high rate of road accident and attendant loss of precious lives and property in the country.
Oyeyemi decried government's insensitivity to road traffic management due to lack of political will, noting that since 1962, no additional rail track had been added to the railway lines, hence the pressure on the roads.
The DCM explained that NRSS was a wake-up call for stakeholders to make contributions on repositioning and ensuring safety on the roads.
He, therefore, suggested diversifying sources of funding and input from the FRSC before roads were constructed in the country.
Speaking also, the Chief Executive Officer of ABC Transport Plc, Mr. Frank Nneji, frowned at the import policy, which allows vehicles above 15 years to be brought into the country.
Calling for proper standardization of operations of transportation in the country, Mr. Nneji equally reasoned that the position and craze for people to go to the nation's capital, also lead to road traffic crashes.
Vanguard recalls that over 25 groups, including members of Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, National Association of Road Transport Owners, NARTO, Red Cross Society, as well as transport and works departments of Bayelsa, Imo and Rivers States participated in the event.
Vanguard Nigeria