[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Governor of Kwara state of Nigeria, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, has commended the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) for demonstrating commitment to issues of road safety in the country, saying its public enlightenment campaign and enforcement strategies have led to drastic reduction in the rate and fatalities of road traffic crashes.
He gave the commendation in Ilorin, while commissioning the permanent office complex of the Kwara state Sector command of the FRSC, Ilorin, being one of the office construction projects of the present administration in the area of provision of office infrastructure at the field commands.
The Governor particularly expressed satisfaction with the aggressive pursuit of public enlightenment programmes and other road safety measures being undertaken by the Corps, describing them as a measure of diligence. He further noted that the public consciousness and evident reduction in crash and death rates are due to the diligence exhibited by members of the Corps in monitoring the roads. He expressed the readiness of his administration to support the FRSC in its determination to achieve the goal of safer road environments.
The Governor recalled some of the complementary projects the state government is embarking upon in the state to include, “Light Kwara,” which he said is meant to construct street and traffic lights at strategic locations to illuminate the roads, particularly in the night, thereby reducing cases of road traffic crashes attributable to poor illumination of road environment in the night. Others he said include state’s initiative on public-private sector partnership and collaboration with relevant stakeholders for harmonious existence in the work environment in the state.
He directed relevant agencies of the state government to ensure that adequate traffic signage are mounted at the required locations, while roads are regularly maintained. In addition, he promised, to support the state Sector command in furnishing the newly completed office complex and called on drivers in the state to always obey traffic rules and regulations.
In his keynote address, the Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi thanked the Governor for his developmental strides in Kwara state and expressed gratitude to him for his sustained support for the success of the FRSC’s operations in the state. The Corps Marshal recalled the Governor’s moral support for the Corps in the process leading to the approval of the Nigeria Road Safety Strategy (NRSS) document by the National Economic Council (NEC) and subsequent inauguration of the National Road Safety Advisory Council (NaRSAC) of which he is a member and appreciated him for the solidarity and commitment shown to the success of the Corps
Speaking on the office complex, Oyeyemi noted that the 33 rooms suite is a strategic design by the FRSC Management to pursue the policy of constructing permanent office infrastructure in the states to address the office accommodation needs of the Corps at the state capitals. According to him, five more of the same type of project are in various stages of completion across the country.
He restated the commitment of his Management to sustaining the ongoing road safety campaigns in the country, and called for collaboration from relevant stakeholders in tackling the menace of road traffic crashes with joint efforts. While assuring that the Corps would soon flag off the 2017 end of year special patrol for effective traffic management during the end of year festivities, he enjoined motorists to adhere strictly to the safety requirements to make the celebrations hitch-free .
After commissioning the office complex, Governor Ahmed undertook the facility tour of the building, before signing the visitors’ book in the Sector Commander’s office, where he thanked members of the FRSC in the state for the support they render to the state government in the area of traffic management, safety and security of lives and property.
