FG vows to reduce road crashes

The federal government has vowed to reduce road crashes fatalities by 50 percent on Nigerian roads.

This declaration was made by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Woks, Dr. Abubakar Muhammad, who represented the minister, Arc Mike Onolememen during the donation of six Peugeot Expert tepee single stretcher ambulances and 24 Yamaha XJ900P power bikes to Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Abuja.

Dr. Muhammad said the machines are to improve safety level along the selected safe road corridors.

In his words: “The distribution of these ambulances and motor bikes along the safe corridors will enhance road safety management and increase safe enforcement strategies. Our determination in this regard cannot and will not in the least be compromised because the lives of our citizens using these roads are vital for our socio-economic renewal as indeed national transformation.”

Newly-donated motor-bikes to FRSC

The permanent secretary also said the project was a collaboration between the Federal Government and the World Bank under the Federal Roads Development Team, RSDT Project and represents the way forward for all critical infrastructures in line with the Federal Government’s policy of promoting partnership with multi-lateral and private sector financiers.

“It is gratifying to note that these ambulances and motor bikes are equipped with required state of the art communication equipment that will substantially improve safety enforcement strategies and enhance adequate and prompt accident recovery. In particular, it will considerably assist in reducing accidents fatality by at least 50 percent along the selected safe corridors,” he said.

Responding, the Corps Marshal, Osita Chidoka said with the equipment, the Corps will be would be more effective and efficient in the discharge of its duties.

Chidoka pledged his Corps’ readiness to make judicious use of all the equipment as well as performing optimally. He also reiterated the Corps’ total commitment to the Vision 2020:20 with respect to reducing road traffic crashes and fatalities in the country.

The Corps Marshal added that “We have since embarked on aggressive road crash reduction programmes in the country and intensified our campaigns among member countries of the West African Sub-region under the auspices of the West African Road Safety Organization (WARSO).

“These are geared towards achieving 50 percent reduction in road crashes and fatalities by 2015 in line with the Accra declaration, the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety, 2011-2020 and the nation’s quest of becoming one of the 20 largest economies and safest in the world by 2020 in line with the development agenda of the present administration.”