[dropcap]I[/dropcap]n the continuing efforts by Management of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to engage relevant stakeholders in the implementation of the Nigeria Road Safety Strategy document, the Corps Marshal, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi has called for the support of security agencies in the country for collective efforts against the menace of road traffic crashes.
He made the call yesterday (Thursday) while declaring open a one day sensitization forum organized for members of security and strategic agencies at the FRSC National Headquarters, Abuja.
The Corps Marshal in his presentation expressed concern at the rising cases of death and injuries on the world roads which he said claim 1.5 million lives and 50 million injuries annually. He further observed that road traffic crashes could become the third killer of mankind globally by 2020, if concrete steps are not taken by nations to address the menace.
He recalled that the adoption of Safe System Approach was a strategy to create adequate public awareness through measures that could make road traffic crashes not to result into death or serious injuries. He added that the declaration of the 2011-2020 as Decade of Action For Road Safety through the United Nations General Assembly was an opportunity for nations to put necessary measures in place to address the menace of road traffic crashes globally.
Oyeyemi further noted that the Nigeria Road Safety strategy document, 2016-2020 was an initiative that was borne out of the need for joint efforts by relevant stakeholders to address the traffic challenges of the country. He commended the Federal Government for approving the strategy document through the decisions of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in 2013 and National Economic Council (NEC) in 2017, culminating in the inauguration of the National Road Safety Advisory Council (NaSAC) by the Acing President early this year with membership drawn from ministers, governors and other non-governmental organizations.
The FRSC Boss stressed in his address, that the one day sensitization forum became imperative in view of the strategic roles the security agencies play in law enforcement and security of the nation. He urged them to make necessary inputs that could contribute to the success of the shared nature of road safety campaigns in the country.
In their various contributions to the presentation, participants who were drawn from the security agencies including the military and paramilitary organizations, made valuable contributions during the interactive session. Among the observations made were need for concerted efforts by relevant stakeholders to address cases of articulated vehicles operating without properly tying the goods they convey; substance abuse by drivers and need to address the issue of violent attacks against FRSC patrol teams.
Others were need for drivers of articulated vehicles to always affix appropriate number of plates on their vehicles and to observe the minimum safety standards while operating on the highways. They also called on state and federal government to join hands in repairing damaged portions of the road across the country to avoid drivers taking advantage of such areas to commit traffic offences, especially route violation.
The participants expressed willingness to continue to participate in future consultative forum on the need for collective efforts to address the menace of road traffic crashes in the country as required in the Nigeria Road Safety Strategy Document .
PIX 01: Corps Marshal, FRSC, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi giving His Keynote Address during the One day Sensitization Forum for Security And Strategic Agencies on Nigerian Road Safety Strategy (NRSS) at the FRSC HQ Abuja on the 27th September, 2017.
