[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi has applauded the Federal Government’s resumption of work on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway and other major roads across the country following the recent mobilization of the contractors, assuring that FRSC is determined to ensure that safety measures are observed at construction areas through adequate warning signs and effective traffic management.
He stated this while holding a joint meeting with the representatives of the Ministry of Works, Power and Housing and the two construction companies handling the road project, Julius Berger PLC and RCC.
According to Bisi Kazeem, Head Media Relations and Strategy, in a press release, Oyeyemi , who was represented at the meeting by the Assistant Corps Marshal in charge of Policy, Research and Statistics, Dr. Kayode Olagunju expressed satisfaction with the commitment made by the construction companies to observe safety standards in the construction areas, saying FRSC will ensure that road users are saved from undue hardships due to omission or commission of the construction companies.
He particularly commended the Minister of Works, Power and Housing for directing the construction companies to strictly adhere to safety standards, promising that FRSC in discharging its responsibilities would continue to collaborate with the Ministry to ensure that safety measures are followed in the construction areas.
The Corps Marshal however, identified a number of challenges that could undermine safety in the areas, which he said includes inadequate signage at the construction sites, illegal openings and illegal diversions at dangerous locations as well as deep potholes and failed portions. Others according to Corps Marshal are flooding, crocodile cracks and inadequate lightening around the sites which could create hazard at nights.
In order to address these challenges, Oyeyemi however, urged the two construction companies to provide standard and appropriate road signs at all the construction sites and ensure that uniform and adequate signage are provided to guide the motorists. He gave assurances that FRSC will embark on Joint Field Assessment Patrol with the Ministry of Works, Power and Housing and representatives of the two construction companies in order to provide information on the location of the identified illegal openings for immediate refilling and closure of the areas to traffic.
In addition RCC was advised to collaborate with the Police Force to provide more security backup in the areas while it should extend the patching of the area to the Sagamu end of the expressway. In the same vein, Julius Berger was directed to ensure that concrete barriers are placed on the hard shoulders to prevent motorists from driving against flow of traffic, especially at the areas where the practice has been identified to be more problematic, such as the MFM-NASAFAT turning area.
The meeting also resolved that Julius Berger PLC should carryout repair work on the identified failed spots, which the site Engineer confirmed was already being handled in order to provide palliatives to motorists. Furthermore, RCC is to expedite action in completing work at the Ogunmakin area and also, to reopen the complete section between First Square and Ogunmakin during the forthcoming Sallah celebration to ease traffic flow.
The meeting also resolved that the two construction companies should provide adequate lights to illuminate the construction sites especially at night, in order to avoid the dangers of unsuspecting motorists running into men at work or stationary equipment.
In his remarks, the representative of the Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Alhaji Kayode Ibrahim, thanked the Corps Marshal for his proactive action in calling the meeting, which he described as timely and very necessary. He expressed the appreciation of the Minister for Works, Power and Housing to the FRSC, saying the Ministry will sustain collaboration with FRSC in order to ensure that safety standards are always observed.
In the same vein, the representatives of the two construction companies, while expressing appreciation to the Corps Marshal for the meeting and the technical inputs, promised to observe safety standards throughout the period of the construction.
Among the FRSC officers that attended the meeting were the Zonal Head of Operations for Zone 2 Lagos, Corps Commander Ngueku Godwin; the Sector Commanders of Lagos and Ogun state sector commands as well as Unit commanders of the affected routes. Also in attendance were representatives of the two Construction companies and the Federal Ministry of Works, Power and Housing.
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