Gov. Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti has expressed appreciation to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) over it’s impressive efforts at reducing accidents on road networks across the state, asking it to increase the tempo, as the yuletide season draws nearer.
Oyebanji spoke on Thursday in Ado-Ekiti, at the flag-off, of the 2023 Ember Months Campaign”, organised by the Corps for all categories of road users operating in the State.
Represented by the Commissioner for Transport, Mr Kehinde Ajobiewe, the governor said “Ekiti State Command and FRSC nationwide must be commended for their relentless efforts in keeping our highways safe, and their swift response to rescue accident victims, in all the nooks and crannied of the State, since assuming office”.
According to him, road traffic crashes had in years past, caused a lot of mishaps where many families had lost their bread winners, while many people had sustained permanent injuries, and some have lost their means of livelihood, while others are still living in perpetual pain or sorrow of bereavement.
He called on motorists and all other categories of road users to continue to cooperate with the agency, in obeying all traffic rules, adopt best global practices and embrace attitudinal change which are panacea to ensuring restoration of sanity on Nigeria roads.
The governor also tasked all Stakeholders in traffic management, to redouble their efforts, so as to ensure precious lives are not lost on the nation’s roads again.
Oyebanji admonished residents to understand that all the months of the year are the same, and that they shouy disabuse their minds against categorising “Ember Months” as evil, while also making sure they tried as much as possible to always engage in activities that would guarantee individual safety of themselves and that of other road users.
” As a governor of the State, our administration has been committed to giving Ekiti people the best of our service. Our works within the first One Year in office would attest to the love we have for them, and the readiness to demonstrate the “Renewed Hope Agenda” of Mr. President and Commander -In – Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
” Amidst our challenges, We shall continue to lead by example, by fixing our roads, provide basic amenities and ensure that our people continue to enjoy the dividends of democracy our progenitors fought so hard to achieve”, he said.
While congratulating the FRSC in Ekiti State Sector Command for this year’s achievements, he implored them to sustain the efforts of keeping the rate of crashes very low in Ekiti.
He equally urged all Ekiti people to reflect on the theme of this year’s Ember months flag off, which is; ” Speed Thrills But Kills, Drive Responsibly And Avoid Overloading”, and ensure complete restoration of sanity on the roads.
Earlier in his welcome address, the FRSC Sector Commander in the State, Mr Elijah O. Joseph, vowed that it would no longer be business as usual with offenders going against the rules guiding use of the road, even as he thanked the State government for supporting it’s efforts.
He lamented that though carnage on Ekiti network of roads had reduced drastically in early part of the year, the good story suddenly changed in September, when renewed negative activities of recalcitrant drivers, led to the death of a total of 15 passengers, in two fatal crashes between September 8-9, a situation he described as saddening.
Joseph, who said the next line of action was to reduce accidents to zero level in the state, therefore warned all road users against flouting any of the rules of driving, as anyone caught, especially drunken, underaged drivers and other recalcitrant drivers, would be made to pay dearly for his crime.
He particularly charged them to to shun distracted driving, such as use of phone while driving, drinking or eating while driving, street searching, fiddling with opposite sex, pets and vehicle gadjets..
” These among others have contributed significantly to incidences of road traffic crashes in the country”, he said.
He noted that attitudinal change was the only panacea, capable of creating safer roads, and assurances of better lives.
The Sector Commander also reminded commercial motorcycle riders on the need to always wear crash helmets and ensure that side mirrors are perfectly fixed to their bikes.
He announced that FRSC now has five additional formations, spread across Ekiti, so as to achieve more closeness of it’s activities to the people, as well as increasing it’s performance.
On the allegation by some concerned people that some of his men were in the habit of operating illegally in neibourhood places rather than major federal highways where the law permits, he said such was not totally correct, as those found in such locations are sometimes on the invitation of residents themselves, especially whenever they observed that there is traffic logjams.
Present at the occasion were: all motor unions, okada unions, including those of the Tricycle operators, as well as other para-military formations, who showered encomiums on the operations of the Corp, and promising continued support as well as cooperation.
