[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Dr Boboye Oyeyemi has expressed readiness to collaborate with the operators of the state owned Mass Transit companies in the country in the continuing efforts by the Corps to involve all relevant stakeholders in the ongoing campaigns to make the nation’s roads safer.
The Corps Marshal stated this on Wednesday, while declaring open a one day interactive session with Chief Executives of the state owned mass transit companies.
The event which was a continuation of FRSC’s consultative initiatives with its stakeholders was to create enlightenment and education on matters of road safety to relevant stakeholders. According to Oyeyemi, FRSC has since its establishment been striving to enshrine global best practice in fleet management and general road usage through robust education and enlightenment programmes. He added that the interactive session became imperative in view of developments noted by the Corps in the operations of state owned mass transit companies in the face of globalisation and trends in urbanisation.
“This interactive session is one of the platforms we have carefully designed by the FRSC to interface with the major players in the transport industry and to afford them opportunity to discuss the challenges of managing mass transit and how to respond to them for improved results,” he stated.
“For the avoidance of doubt, available records lend credence to the significant role that State Mass Transit programmes across the country play in our transportation system,” he added. This he said, is evidenced by the fact that involvement of states in mass transit programmes has led to the birth of public transport companies such as the Ibadan City Bus Service, Kano State Transport Corporation, Lagos State Transport Corporation, Kaduna State Transport Authority etc with positive impacts on the transport sub sector in the country.
The Corps Marshal noted that some of the state owned transport outfits charge fairly lower fares compared to the privately owned transport operators but stressed that despite the increasing involvement of private sector in the operation of mass transit in the country, government’s involvement in the sector is inevitable, considering that it controls and manages many vital components of the road transport including the roads, regulatory framework and the major sources of investment. “We therefore, consider this interface very imperative and timely,” he further stated.
FRSC Boss urged the participants to make the best use of this opportunity to acquaint themselves with one another and share ideas on the challenges of effective mass transit management and how to enhance its efficiency and safety. “As the lead agency in matters of road safety in the country, I assure you that FRSC will remain committed to supporting all initiatives aimed at enhancing safety, security, efficiency and convenience of the passengers of mass transit system in the country,” Oyeyemi stated. He enumerated some policy measures enunciated by the FRSC to create efficiency in the operation of mass transit in the country.
Some of these measures he said include institution of internationally acceptable minimum safety standards through the implementation of the Road Transport Safety Standardisation Scheme (RTSSS); encouragement to states to establish road traffic regulatory agencies; training/certification of drivers and safety managers and regulate the inspection of fleet operators’ vehicles. Others are fleet renewal programme for state mass transit and installation of speed limiting devices
He urged participants to make the best use of the session by relating closely with one another and asking questions that could clear their doubts in any areas of interest to them. “You should make contributions that could add to the awareness in effective management of state owned mass transit companies and endeavour to create sufficient interface for a better and more efficient operation of mass transit in the country,” Oyeyemi stated.
The one day interactive session which involved some Chief Executives of State Owned Mass Transit Companies from across the states of the federation had some principal officers of the FRSC National Headquarters in attendance.
©Copyright MOTORING WORLD INTERNATIONAL.
All rights reserved. Materials, photographs, illustrations and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior written permission from Motoring World International
Contact: editor.motoringworldng@gmail.com
