OLORUNDARE ENIMOLA, Lagos
In line with the annual road safety activities by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Ota Unit Command, organised a Motor Park Safety enlightenment programme at the Iju Tipper Garage on Thursday 17, November, 2022.
The public enlightenment which was anchored on the theme; 'Avoid Speeding, Overloading and Unsafe Tyres To Arrive Alive', had a large gathering of tipper Drivers', Transport Unions, Driving school associations, Motor vehicle mechanics/artisans, advocacy groups, NYSC road safety club's, motorists and the general public no in attendance.
In his speech, Commandant Ganiu Akeem, Unit Commander said, "This is a routine activity of the Corps' aimed at educating and re-enlightening motorists and general public on the need to take road safety. As a serious business while commuting from one end to another, particularly at this time of the year.
"Aggressive public enlightenment is carried out on daily basis via television, radio stations, newspapers, in churches, mosques and Motor parks. What made this more pronounced during the last four months of the year is the fact that the road get busier through this period. People tend to be aware that the year is coming to an end and want to accomplish goals set in the beginning of the year. The consequence is the attendant crashes with wanton loss of lives and properties.
"For the umteenth time, RTCs are preventable, even during the 'Ember Months', regardless of any mythical or spiritual perceptions. There are major causes of road traffic crashes, which include speeding, overloading, use of unsafe tyres, drunk driving the use of phone while driving, dangerous driving and overtaking among others.
"These are human factors attributable to the highest percentage of all RTCs. Hence there is need to always reorientate road users or road safety or dangers inherent on the road if the basic rules are violated." He said.
In his remark, CDR. Ahmed Umar, Sector Commandant, FRSC, Ogun State, who was ably represented by CDR. I. A. Ibrahim, commended the Unit Commandant for his tireless pursuit of enlightenment excercises, coming after the recently concluded 'Ember Months' campaign programme organised by the Unit.
He said, "This is actually a special period, special in the sense that it is the peak period of the year, when people are rushing to make profits. It is our tradition to use this period to educate people on the need for compliance to safety regulations on the road. During this period we record a high number of over-speeding, overloaded trucks and all manners of traffic offences, including people who do not maintain their cars before plying the roads, leading to increase in RTC that is referred to as a crash this period.
This is why we are gathered here based on the effort of the Unit Commander who is always out to enlighten motoring public. It is my belief that you have all been enlightened. Public enlightenment is a continual process in FRSC because it is our duty to eradicate road traffic crashes and create a safe motoring environment in Nigeria."
Dr. Mrs. Tayo George, Chairman, CDIIC, Covenant University, Ota, stated that having identified several factors responsible for road crashes, the University is doubling effort at supporting road safety advocacies to the grassroot, engage more in researches and the sustenance of a weekly one hour radio programme on road safety running on Hebron FM.
CDR. Ajibade Adekunle, Area Commander, TRACE, Ogun State, declared that the government is doing its bit by improving the state of road networks, advocating that the motoring public should be compliant to safety regulations and stop the attitude of trying to bribe traffic management when apprehended or flaunting traffic rules.
A cross section of stakeholders interviewed expressed satisfaction with the information passed to them by the various speakers, promising to relate every message back to subordinates, members and people in their sphere of influence.
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