ABIODUN TASKS TRACE, FRSC TO SYNERGISE ON ROAD SAFETY

ABIODUN TASKS TRACE, FRSC TO SYNERGISE ON ROAD SAFETY

The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun said his administration is committed to putting in place efficient and sustainable transportation system that will improve quality of life, enhance safe movement of people, prevent road fatalities and crashes within the State.

Governor Abiodun made the assertion during the flag-off of the Sector Command’s ember months campaign at Trailer Park in Ogere-Remo with the theme: ‘Maintain Safe Speed, Avoid Night Travels and Enjoy Quality Road Experience’.

He said his administration is collaborating with all stakeholders in the transport sector to reduce the risks of accidents, particularly on roads, disclosed that government is working towards constituting the State Road Safety Advisory Council, which would oversee the implementation of the National Road Safety Strategy in the State, seeking 35 and 50 percent reduction in fatalities associated with motorcycles and heavy-duty vehicles.

The Governor decried the high rate of road accident recorded especially along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway way, charging all road safety institutions to demonstrate the collaboration that exist between them.

"Clearly, drivers, public transport passengers, vehicle owners and the various federal, State and Local Government institutions have a significant role to play in the reduction of road accidents. I am assured that the campaign being flagged-off will address the various roles expected of all identified stakeholders, particularly transporters and drivers, in order to prevent avoidable road mishaps", Abiodun opined.

He applauded the efforts of the Ogun State Ministry of Transportation together with the State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) for collaborating with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ogun State at strategic and operational levels, to achieve a common objective of accidents reduction in the State.

The Governor charged the FRSC to sustain the campaign beyond the ‘ember months’ into the new year with same vigour and intensity, until the goals of the National Road Safety Strategy for Ogun State are realised and sustained.

Earlier in his address, the Sector Commander, Ogun State Sector Command, FRSC, SC Ahmed Umar said ember months campaign was focused on sensitising members of the public on safe mobility, adding that speed and drug abuse were identified as the lead cause of crashes.

He disclosed that the rate at which trucks and articulated vehicles were involved in road accident, especially along Lagos–Ibadan expressway was alarming, adding that out of the 1,324 road crashes recorded between January and August within Ogun corridor, 441 trucks and other articulated vehicles were involved.

The FRSC boss charged truck fleet operators in the State to engage the expertise of FRSC in its recruitment of truck drivers to enhance the safety of their vehicles and other road users, stressing that the command would further engage current truck and articulated vehicle drivers to minimise accidents on the high way.

In his remarks, the Zonal Commanding Officer of the Corps, Peter Kibo, represented by Corps Commander, Rahila Koli said the agency would partner other security outfits to strengthen its enforcement of route violation and other critical traffic offences on the road, warning the public against night travelling, while also advising passengers to be vigilant and caution speeding drivers.