Ember Month is always associated with hold-ups, traffic- jambs, accidents. This is because of the increased number of people who use the road. The Federal Road Safety Corps has taken a step further towards ensuring that the coming Yuletide is celebrated with minimal accident reports.
This came following an awareness campaign flag off held in Onitsha recently to sensitise the populace on the need for road safety consciousness to all road users within the state.
The event which had the theme: “Road Safety Is A State of Mind, Road Traffic, Crash Is An Absence Of Mind, Stay Alert Stay Alive,” had seasoned speakers who leveraged on the theme to advise road users, especially motorists and others to put more conscious efforts at keeping the road safe, avoiding drug influence, impatience and recklessness of any sort.
Speaking during the event, Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, represented by the deputy governor, Nkem Okeke stated that most accident cases are man made in causation and could have been avoided with the right attitude and approach.
“The FRSC as the lead agency in traffic management in Nigeria over the years has been living up to its statutory duties in traffic controls, clearing of obstructions and enforcement of traffic rules, regulation and prompt attention to road traffic crisis.
Read Also:FRSC Intensifies Safety Campaign In Anambra
However, we are in a new Ember month and the chief security officer in the state has recently launched Operation Kpochapu11 and given special security surveillance vehicles to all security agencies in the state.
Traffic lights were also mounted at strategic positions to ease traffic congestions in Anambra State.”
He noted that the state has started massive rehabilitation of roads in the state to ensure smooth access for motorists and other road users, especially during the busy Christmas period.
Okeke pointed out that heavy duty vehicles have been provided to FRSC for easy evacuation of broken-down vehicles on the road to reduce carnage caused by their presence on the road.
He lamented human element as major cause of road accident amongst other variables, while charging FRSC and all relevant agencies to ensure full enforcement of regulations to mitigate further occurrence.
Delivering his speech during the event, FRSC Corps Marshall, Boboye Oyeyemi, represented by Zonal Co-ordinator RS 5 HQ, Benin, ACM Kehinde Adeleye, expressed his appreciations for the people and government of Anambra State for their tremendous efforts toward ensuring that high level security thrives in the state.
“To further pledge our commitment to ensuring that there is safety on the roads in Anambra State, let me use this opportunity to advise road users that this is a veritable show of the level of commitment, coorperation and collaboration built among service agencies in Anambra State.
We will ensure that all corners of Anambra State will enjoy good security and accident free Yuletide.
The Anambra State Sector Commandant, Andrew Kumapapayi thanked the state government for providing good support for effective implementation of duties, while thanking other sister agencies for their collaboration.
He noted that road accidents are mostly human factor and vowed to prosecute any culprit against full compliance with road safety regulations; while warning all masquerades to steer clear off the roads or risk arrest should they constitute any obstructions to free flow of traffic this Ember months.
The Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) boss in the state cautioned all drivers, vehicle owners, as well to stay off any drug intake or alcohol before or while driving, emphasising their readiness to work in synergy with FRSC, Police and other security agencies to ensure that non compliance to road safety and environmental regulations will be apprehended and consequently prosecuted.
In his own remark, the state director, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Charles Nwaorji emphasised the need for all hands to be on deck in enthroning safe road usage to all classes of people in the state.
“We have gathered at the behest of the FRSC to rekindle our collective commitment to proper and safe road-use ethics, which will ensure the safety of motorists and other road users within the state.
In the past couple of days or weeks, the state has witnessed avoidable road mishaps leading to loss of lives and valuable properties’.
He noted that the ugly incident would have been averted if drivers involved in the accident exercised maximum precautions in the discharge of their duties.
The Onitsha Monarch, Igwe Alfred Achebe, represented by the Palace Chief of Staff, Chinyelugo Enweonwu admonished all operators in the sector to put more efforts to ensure that the objective of accident free Ember months and after is realised.
Anambra State Traffic Management Agency Chairman, Pat Obiefuna, Commissioner for Works, represented by Noel Okoye, lauded the state governor, for his dexterity and purposeful leadership.
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