The
Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Dr Boboye Oyeyemi has
called for strong synergy between the FRSC and the States Traffic Management
Agencies for effective traffic management in the country, saying only effective
collaboration between the agencies could address the challenges of traffic
management in the country. Oyeyemi stated this while addressing heads of states
traffic management agencies from sixteen (16) states of the Federation who
converged at the FRSC National Headquarters Abuja for the maiden meeting of the
state traffic management agencies.
According
to Bisi Kazeem, Head Media Relations and Strategy, FRSC, the Corps Marshal
during the meeting said coming together became imperative in view of the need
for collaboration and partnership between the state agencies and the FRSC for
harmonious relationship and operational standards in matters of road safety
with a view to addressing issues of data collation, crash investigation and
traffic offences. He expressed satisfaction with the fact that of the 36 States
of the Federation including the FCT, 16 have established their Traffic
Management Agencies through the enactment of appropriate laws by the State
Houses of Assembly.
This,
he said, is not only commendable, but a bold and thoughtful stride of the
various administrations. "For
quite some time now, the Federal Road Safety Corps, even with its powers to
operate on all roads of the Federation, founded on Section 11 (1) of the
Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has consistently advocated for
joint ownership of road safety by all Nigerians and for the States to give
desired direction within their domains," he stated.
"All
over the world road safety is a shared responsibility; that is why the Corps
has been encouraging States to establish their own Traffic Management Agencies.
There is no gain saying that some States have been assisted in the capacity
development of their personnel at the FRSC Academy, in Udi, Enugu State,"
he added.
The
Corps Marshal further stressed that the gesture of providing training to the
state traffic agencies is open to all States that may be desirous of the
support, including retraining. "The Corps' efforts are in line with its
mandate as the Lead For Road Traffic Administration and Safety Management in Nigeria
which must necessarily assist all stakeholders to expand their exposures,"
he stated..
The
Corps Marshal expressed the appreciation of the FRSC to the Federal
Government for the enormous support it has enjoyed, pointing out that the
provision of over 300 patrol vehicles, tow trucks and ambulances this year
coupled with other moral and logistics support to the Corps have gone a long
way in motivating staff for increased productivity. He added that the approval
of the National Road Safety Strategy document by the administration which provides an
institutional framework for the composition of National Road Safety Advisory
Council (NaRSAC) under the chairmanship of the Vice President is the height of
political support to issues of road safety in the country.
"It
provides for 21 members with the Vice President as Chairman. Other
members are One Governor each from the six geo-political zones; Secretary to
the Government of the Federation; Honourable Minister of Transport, Works,
Health, Justice, Education, Finance, Environment, Police Affairs, Interior,
National Planning Commission, Federal Capital Territory, Labour and
Productivity as well as the National Security Adviser; Presidents of
Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), National Association of
Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Nigeria
Society of Engineers and Chairman, Federal Road Safety Commission while Corps
Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps serves as Member/Secretary," he stated.
The
Corps Marshal further noted that the
key responsibilities of National Road Safety Advisory Council
is to set National Road Safety Strategy targets, ensure coordination between
Federal, State and Local Governments in achieving road safety targets, drive
the implementation of National Road Safety Strategy, evaluation of outcomes of
national road safety initiatives, development of a funding plan for strategic
initiatives, monitoring of funds disbursement of pre-approved funds for
strategic initiatives, review monitoring and evaluation reports (as submitted
by FRSC), for effective coordination of road safety programmes.
"The basic role of the State Governments in
the strategy document includes mobilizing supports for successful
implementation of the NRSS country-wide; Cascading the NRSS to the Local
Government level, by institutionalizing the process in their respective State;
making adequate budgetary provision as it concerns their implementing agencies;
liaising with FRSC to organize workshops to validate the targets set for them
in the document; reposition States Bureau of Statistics to facilitate
collation of all relevant data," Oyeyemi stated.
Also
speaking at the meeting, the Director-General of Kano State Road Traffic Agency
(KAROTA) AIG Mohammed Hadi Zarewa commended the Corps Marshal for the
initiative of the meeting which he described as timely. He stressed that with
the platform, members would have the opportunity to share experiences and
collaborate with one another in addressing the challenges of traffic management
in the country. AIG Chris OlaKpe in his own speech called for sustained meeting
of the agencies which would enable members to cooperate with one another in
addressing traffic management especially within the neighboring states.
Before
the meeting commenced, the heads of the agencies paid familiarization visits to
the FRSC Print Farm at Kado Abuja and the Number Plate Production Plant
Gwagwlad as well the Information Technology Centre at the National Headquarters
of the Corps.
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