Kogi State government on Wednesday announced its readiness to partner with the Federal Riad Safety Corps (FRSC) to reduce the high rate of road crashes on roads in different parts of the state.
The state Commissioner for Information amd Communication Strategy, Hon. Kingsley Fanwo announced the decision in Lokoja while briefing newsmen shortly after a close door meeting with the State Sector Commander of the FRSC,Mr Kumar Tsukwam.
Fanwo explained that part of the plan to reduce road crashes in the state is to grant free airtime for public enlightening activities of the FRSC on state owned media platforms.
According to Fanwo, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo approved the collaboration with FRSC to stem the high rate of road crashes in the state.
“We are here to collaborate with the Federal Road Safety Corps to minimize the carnage on the roads across Kogi state.
“We want to ensure that the roads are free and safe for motorists.
“The last accident that occurred along Lokoja -Obajana road where many people lost their lives is unfortunate and the state government is worried about the incident.
“The state government is desirous of reducing the carnage on the state’s roads to the barest minimum that is the reason this collaboration is taking place today.
“I have discussed with the State Commander of FRSC in charge of Kogi state and he is very ready to contribute his effort in ensuring that the road is accident free.
“The team of the government which comprises of head of road, graphic newspaper have met with the officials of the FRSC to discuss way forward on how best the incessant road mishaps to be reduced in the state.
“We don’t want to witness again a situation where accident will occur and people will die.
“We will use our platform, Kogi State Broadcasting Corporation, so that the road safety corps can use our platform to engage on rigorous campaign against factors that normally contributed to road accidents in the state,” Fanwo explained.
The Commissioner was accompanied on the visit to the FRSC office by Ebenezer Adurodija, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Mr Yusuf Jimoh Itopa, Managing Director , Graphic Newspaper among others.
In his response, the state
Sector Commander FRSC, Mr Kumar Tsukwam confirmed the readiness of his organisation with the state government to reduce carnage on roads in Kogi State.
He said the FRSC will establish the National Road Safety Advisory Council in the state, saying that Governor Ododo will be the Grand Patron of the committee.
He appreciated the state government for coming out to partner with the FRSC to make roads in the state safer for motorists.
Tsukwam promised to use the offer of free time on the state radio to embark on rigorous public enlightenment campaigns in collaboration with other key stakeholders.
He said the FRSC had already prepared 10 different jingles in local languages which will be aired on radio intermittently for the enlightenment of motorists and other road users.
Tsukwam said : “We have an intensive meeting with the Hon. Commissioner for information and communication together with his team on the need to collaborate with the Kogi state government to minimize the incessant road accident in the state.
“We are ready to work with the ministry and the media to cascade the message down to the grassroots.
“As part our effort, we will introduce the National Road Safety Advisory Council which will be inaugurated in the state.
“The governor will be Grand Patron, the Deputy Governor will serve as the Chief Executive of the council.
“The council will consist of 30 members which will include ministry of works, the police, media , Nigeria Medical Association.
“To keep the road safe is a collective responsibility and I am happy with the decision of the commissioner and his media team.
“I will also use jingles in different dialects to pass the message across to the motorists and various transport unions.
“We will introduce our safety mobile apps that will show where there are potholes on the roads.
“We will invite all the transport unions in the state to dialogue with them and we will sensitize passengers who are fond of advising driver to increase speed because they are on haste.
“I have started road safety standardization schemes where we will take the statistics of vehicles in the state we will correct the drivers, especially areas that need to be improved to avoid road crashes.
“We will also register Okadas, Tricycles (KEKE) to know how many of them are in the state.
“As we proceed on this programme, I will trained my staff so that they can handle situation with human face and have moral booster to do the work effectively.
“We will use persuasion, public enlightenment, sensitization to enforce the road safety regulations.
“I commend the commissioner for this initiative and as FRSC, I am not going to be armchair leader, I will be on the field with my men to ensure that the road is safe for motorists and the people of the state.
On excessive speeding on the part of commercial drivers, Tsukwam said : “Over speeding has been a major problem we will sensitize motorists on the danger inherent in over speeding and how it can easily resulted to accidents and killing of innocent citizens.”
(vitalnewsngr.com)
