The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road
Safety Corps (FRSC), Boboye Oyeyemi has called for strong synergy between the
FRSC and institutions learning in the country in the ongoing campaign to evolve
a safer road culture in Nigeria. Delivering a lecture titled, “Evolving a Safer
Road Culture in Nigeria,” at the University of Lagos, Akoka, Oyeyemi enumerated
the challenges of road safety in the country, saying millions of lives lost and
varying degree of injuries suffered due to road traffic crashes globally are
those of people who come mostly from the developing economies like Nigeria,
even though they account for the least number of vehicles.
According to a press release by Bisi
Kazeem, Head, Media Relations and Strategy, FRSC, Oyeyemi said ththe alarming
proportion of youth who suffer from the menace of road traffic crashes either
as direct victims or those rendered helpless due to death or incapacitation of
their parents makes it imperative that institutions of learning like the
University join the FRSC to find lasting solutions to the menace. He described
as “unacceptable,” a situation where youths who form the most productive
segment of the national population get perished to avoidable road crashes with
consequences development of the nation.
The Corps Marshal however expressed the
commitment of the FRSC to finding appropriate solutions to the challenges of
road traffic crashes in the country, saying different strategies are being
worked out to deal with the notorious culture of recklessness on the nation’s
highways which led to negative rating of the county’s road in the past. He
noted that with the foresight of the Nigerian government through the
establishment of the FRSC 28 years ago, various policies and programmes have
been put in place to address the menace, citing the example of Road Transport
Safety Standardisation Scheme, Driving School Standardisation Programme and
reforms in the licensing system of the country including the ongoing campaign
for use of seatbelt and speed liming devices.
Oyeyemi further noted that as part of
the holistic measures to democratise the use of enforcement powers by the FRSC
and make participation in road safety campaign accessible to everyone, the
initiative of Special Marshals was embedded in the original concept of the
Corps. The FRSC boss declared that while the Corps has been aggressively
pursuing public awareness creation, it has also tried to blend it with
enforcement to avoid making it look as if it is an entertainment. He added
however that the Corps has remained largely civil in its approach to issues of
enforcement by empathising on persuasion, enlightenment and subtle enforcement
before real enforcement, which he described as the last option.
He pointed out that though the FRSC
appreciates the public support and goodwill of the people to its operations
over the years, some hoodlums and recalcitrant members of the society tend to
take law into their hands by exhibiting acts of lawlessness towards patrol
teams, stressing that such elements would not find peace, if apprehended. He
gave the example of two people in Lagos who recently molested s staff of the
Corps on legal duty, but later identified and brought before a Court of law
where they are being prosecuted, vowing to pursue any traffic violator who dare
to molest his staff on patrol to the last point of justice system.
While commending the Federal Government
for its moral and logistics support for the FRSC to carry out its functions
more effectively, the Corps Marshal expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu
Buahri for the support, saying the recent endorsement of the Nigeria Road
Safety Strategy document by his administration as well as the procurement of
283 patrol and rescue vehicles for the Corps demonstrate the president’s
concern for safety of road users in the country. Oyeyemi disclosed that in its
continuing search for solutions to the intractable traffic challenges facing
the country, stakeholders have resolved on the use of speed limiters in
commercial vehicles, enforcement of which would commence very soon.
According to him, the earlier
enforcement date of 1st April 2016 was stood down following the
intervention of the National Assembly which suspended the enforcement to enable
the House Committee on FRSC hold a public hearing to determine the desirability
or otherwise of the use of the device. He noted however that with the
successful conduct of the public hearing and subsequent submission of the
report of the Committee and resolution of the entire House to lift the
suspension order coupled with the Court judgment which reaffirmed the power of
the FRSC to introduce the device, consultation is on with the relevant
stakeholders to set a new date for commencement of enforcement.
Oyeyemi assures Nigerians that FRSC
will remain focused on ensuring the safer road environments in Nigeria,
pointing out that funding and people’s poor attitude to use of the road remain
two major impediments to the campaign to road safety in the country. He however
expressed optimism that with the interest being shown to matters of road safety
by institutions of higher learning, coupled with the active participation
of youths in road safety campaigns as demonstrated by the large turnout of the
students to listen to the road safety lecture, positive changes on road usage
are around the corner. He called on the academia especially, the University of
Lagos to sustain road safety campaign and collaboration with the Corps by
embracing the principle of “catching them young,” in their programmes.
In his remarks at the lecture, the Vice
Chancellor, who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academics and
Research, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe stated that the special road safety
lecture programme was organised as part of the Corporate Social Responsibility
of the University towards the creation of road safety consciousness among the
students and members of the University community. He commended the FRSC for its
consistent campaign against road carnage and expressed the readiness of the
institution to sustain its partnership with the Corps for massive enlightenment
of the people.
Welcoming the participants to the
lecture, the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Professor Iyiola Oni
recalled the historical collaboration existing between the FRSC and the
University. He stressed that the lecture was packaged to deliberately build the
bridge between the gown and the community in the determination to raise
people’s consciousness on matters of road safety which have attracted global
attention.
He thanked the Corps Marshal for
honouring the invitation to deliver the lecture and assured that the existing
relationship between the faculty and the FRSC will be sustained.
The representative of the Chairman of
the Occasion who is also the Managing Director of the Leadway Insurance,
Mrs Olubumi Asha was full of commendation for the FRSC for raising the stake on
road safety consciousness beyond what it was before in Nigeria. She expressed
optimism that with the growing awareness on issues of road safety especially
among the youths, the nation’s roads would soon witness tremendous change in
safer road culture.
The lecture programme which was held at
the Main Auditorium of the University, attracted large number of students from
the Faculty of Social Sciences of the institution, Deans of Faculties and
sub-deans, Professors, Heads of Department, transport unions and members of the
university community. It also had the traditional ruler of Akoka
community, Baale of Isole Akoka in attendance.
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Society