FRSC Gets President Jonathan's Commendation

President Goodluck Jonathan, Friday commended the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, for the introduction of toll free number and increase in ambulance points across the country.

Jonathan, who gave the commendation at the FRSC 5th annual lecture, said the measure had enhanced rescue operations of road accident victims.

Represented by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, Jonathan urged the commission to improve on the removal of obstructions on highways.
He said this will reduce accident and seamless flow of traffic.

The president promised that his administration would continue to demonstrate political will to the issue safety management.
He noted that the establishment of the commission was demonstration of government’s commitment to road safety management and urged stakeholders to collaborate with government in that regard.

The guest speaker, President Johan Mahama of Ghana, called on countries in Africa that had not set up road traffic management organisation to do so.

Represented by his Vice, Mr Kwensi Arthur, Mahama noted that road traffic accident was becoming alarming in the continent, adding that urgent steps must taken to address it.

“The situation (road traffic accident) is alarming in poor countries; Africa and the Middle East are mostly affected even though they have fewer vehicles than the developed countries.

“The people that are most affected, are people who are economically active, those between the age of 15 and 44 years.
“It is expected that by 2020, injuries from road traffic accident will be the 3rd leading cause of death globally”, he said.
The Ghananian president also noted that road accident was preventable if the right attitude was adopted and called for concerted efforts to tackle it.

The Senate president, Sen. David Mark, who chaired the occasion, called on African governments to join global efforts in tackling the menace.

“We should not continue to mourn over death through accident; we can do something to stop it", he said.
We must say no to this killer (road traffic accident) of mankind which will become number three killer of man in the nearest future of we do not do something about it”, he said.

The Senate President was represented by Sen. Babajide Omoworare, Chairman Senate Committee on Inter-Governmental Affairs.
Mr. Osita Chidoka, the Corps Marshal of the FRSC, described road traffic accident as a major global challenge.

Chidoka noted that the challenge was more pronounced in Africa, particularly the sub-Sahara region and added that the commission remained committed to addressing the challenge in the country.