[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he President of the West African Road Safety Organisation (WARSO), Mr Mamamdou Sidiki Kamota has applauded the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) for its exemplary leadership role in road safety campaigns not only in the West African sub-region, but African continent at large.
The WARSO President gave the commendation during his courtesy visit to the Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi at the FRSC National Headquarters Abuja.
Mr Mamadou who expressed delight at the warm reception accorded him and members of his delegation since arrival in the country, thanked the Corps Marshal for the leadership role played by Nigeria under the auspices of the Federal Road Safety Corps in inaugurating the sub-regional road safety organisation in 2008 and consistently working hard to strengthen it. This he said has made the organisation a reference point for an ideal road safety organisation in sub-regional blocs within the African continent and other developing countries of the world.
He described as inspiring; the high level of commitment being shown by the FRSC to issues of road safety and the elevation of road safety programme to the national agenda of the country, saying other African countries should emulate Nigeria in their efforts at tackling the challenges of road traffic crashes. The WARSO President particularly commended the FRSC for its pioneering role in making the WARSO a functional sub-regional road safety organisation which has become the envy of other countries within the African continent, stressing that he would continue to consult the Corps Marshal for sustained growth and development of the organisation.
The WARSO President particularly hailed Nigeria for its road safety agenda especially for approving the Nigeria Road Safety Strategy Document, saying such effort could create the desired public awareness on issues of road safety thereby ensuring safety on the nation’s roads. He promised to tap into the Nigeria’s initiative in mobilising other countries within the sub-region region to take active part in the activities of WARSO while collaborating with the various governments to ensure that member states they pay their annual subscription fees and build the spirit of cooperation for the success of the organisation’s programmes.
In his remarks, the Corps Marshal who was the immediate president of the organisation expressed confidence in the ability of the new president to move the organisation to greater height, saying FRSC is always ready and willing to share its experiences with other sister African countries on matters of road safety.
Oyeyemi called on the President not to rest on his oars in his membership drive, noting that some African countries are still operating outside the organisation. According to him, Nigeria’s resolve to tackle its road safety challenges remains total, but observed that the nation’s success in the campaign can only be appreciated when the initiative is embraced by all member countries of ECOWAS.
This he said informed the FRSC’s relentless efforts at ensuring that other member countries see the need to establish road safety lead agency in their countries and the commitment of the Corps to extending technical support to them. The FRSC Boss further expressed the readiness of the FRSC to extend its hands of support to the WARSO members and other countries within the sub-region in ensuring that the entire roads within the West African sub-region are free of avoidable road traffic crashes.
He stressed the need for regular meeting of members of the organisation for holistic review of road safety programmes and general cooperation within the member states.
Also speaking at the occasion, the Special Transport Specialist Road Safety Pillar with the World Bank Country Office, Kenya, Mrs Tawia Ado-Abhong called on member states of ECOWAS to be committed to the initiative of collective road safety programme through their membership of WARSO. She noted that the initiative of regional blocs in matters of road safety is the path the world has adopted in tackling the menace of road safety and appealed for adoption of the initiative by all sub-regional blocs in their road safety campaigns
While commending Nigeria for remaining steadfast in its road safety campaign in the country and within the West African sub-region, she expressed the readiness of the World Bank to support road safety initiatives to make the campaign a success. She urged member states to be committed to the programmes of WARSO.
The WARSO President who was at the FRSC National Headquarters with members of his delegation was taken round the FRSC Information Technology centre (ITC) where he was shown the Corps’ facilities for traffic management in the country. As part of his activities in the country, he is expected to participate in a number of programes within the period of his stay including attendance at the FRSC Annual Lecture Series slated for 24th August 2017.
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