The
African Development Bank (ADB) has expressed its willingness to support the
activities of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in ensuring safety on the
highways. This was disclosed by the Transport Expert of the Bank, Nwila Aaron
Katambula during his courtesy visit to the Corps Marshal, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi at
the FRSC National Headquarters Abuja.
According
to Bisi Kazeem, Head Media Relations and Strategy, FRSC, Katambula who led
other officials of the Bank on the visit, expressed concern with the
challenges of road safety management and effects of road traffic crashes on the
socio-economic development of the African region. He stated that the Bank will
demonstrate its concern for safety of lives and property of the people through
its support to relevant institutions by engaging in road safety reforms in the
African continent.
He
added that African Development Bank will render necessary support for road
development in the Africa Continent, noting that emphasis would be placed on
the country capacity review, road design and post-crash treatment. The
Transport expert further stated that the Bank will give consideration to some
road corridors across the Nigeria including the Gombe-Biu road and Lafia-Keffi road
in Nasawa state, promising to explore other areas of assisting the Corps to
manage its road side clinics established across the country.
The
Transport expert acknowledged the fact that apart from victims of road
traffic crash victims which are given treatment at the FRSC Clinics, other non
crash victims like members of the host community also patronise them. This he
said makes it imperative that the Clinics be supported by relevant stakeholders
for more quality services.
Earlier
in its presentation, the Corps Marshal recalled the activities of the FRSC in
its determination to restore sanity on the highways through public
enlightenment and enforcement programmes. He disclosed that as part of the
determination of the FRSC to attend to crash victims with promptness and
efficiency, the Corps established Roadside Clinics as well as Ambulance points
across the country. He noted that due to the closeness of the clinics to the
some communities, people from such communities do come to seek for medical attention
which the Corps is obliged to give in view of its spirit of corporate social
responsibilities.
The
Corps Marshal thanked the President for the support to the FRSC through
provision of logistics to enhance the operations of the Corps. He noted that the
Ministry of Health has been showing understanding to the challenges of the
Roadside Clinics by planning to incorporate them into the primary health care
programme of the Ministry. This he said would go a long way in assisting the
Corps to render more qualitative services to road traffic crash victims and
members of the host community.
Oyeyemi
assured the Bank that the Corps is committed to the success of the ongoing
global road safety campaign by the United Nations Decade of Action For Road
Safety: 2011-2020 and called on relevant stakeholders to assist in realising
the goals.
The
African Development Bank Transport Expert was accompanied on the visit by some
officials of the Bank in Nigeria.
Tags
Society