News - Jonathan, others laud FRSC, urge end to trailers’ menace

[TGD]

 PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan on Monday commended the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) for its excellent performance, as the agency marked its silver jubilee in Abuja.

At the opening of the FRSC's 25th anniversary international conference, however, President Jonathan, former President Ibrahim Babangida, Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan, and his Ekiti counterpart, Kayode Fayemi, as well as the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, admitted that the agency has challenges that need consistent efforts and co-operation from all Nigerians to meet.

One of the challenges, according to the President, was the constant menace of trailers and other heavy-duty haulage facilities on Nigerian roads and spaces posing real dangers to human lives.

The president said: "As part of our continuing demonstration of commitment to safer road environment, I have directed the Corps Marshal to work in concert with relevant stakeholders to come up with action plan on the provision of parks for trailers and tankers that park indiscriminately on some major roads across the country. These vehicles constitute hazards to other road users, and government is determined to address the challenge."

Noting that his administration recognised the need to empower the FRSC to meet the challenges enunciated by stakeholders and experts at the conference, Jonathan, who spoke through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim, added: "For the avoidance of doubt, we have in the last three years increased the capital and overhead budgetary allocations of the FRSC to about 300 per cent, while staff strength has increased by about 40 per cent.

"We have also acceded to the 1949 Vienna and Geneva Conventions on road markings and signage, to which Nigeria hitherto was not signatory. Furthermore, the Federal Executive Council has approved the incorporation of road safety education in the nation's school curriculum, while the policy on standard school bus for the country has also been approved by the Federal Government."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The President Jonathan said he takes "personal interest" in the activities of the FRSC and "constantly share my ideas and vision of the organisation with the Corps Marshal. I am happy that he has been implementing these ideas, and the success of the vision has been attracting recognition from credible institutions in and outside the country.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"For instance, just recently, the World Bank adjudged FRSC as the best example of a road safety lead agency in the West African sub-region. As a leading nation in Africa with Afro-centric foreign policy, the Federal Government will support the FRSC to render such assistance to save the countries from threats of road carnage."

Addressing participants, the Corps Marshal, Osita Chidoka, said the recent formation of the West African Road Safety Organisation (WARSO) was one of the fallouts of the inspiration being drawn from the Nigerian dream by other countries.

According to him, the FRSC is currently partnering in this regard the International Road Federation (IRF), Global Road Safety Facility (GRSF), the World Bank and Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). He pledged continued collaboration with international agencies to make the FRSC comply with global best practices.

Chidoka noted that the Presidential Dialogue, which commenced yesterday and featured the Niger State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Musa Ibeto, among other dignitaries led by the President, "offers an opportunity to mainstream road safety as a key component in our drive to improve on road infrastructure, increase economic wellbeing and ensure that our growth does not create unintended consequence of avoidable loss of lives arising from increasing motorisation."



The Guardian