The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun says his administration is committed to putting in place efficient and sustainable transportation system that will help in improving quality of life, enhance safe movement of residents, visitors and workers and prevent road fatalities and crashes within the State.
Governor Abiodun made this declaration while flagging off the Ogun Sector Command’s ember months campaign with the theme: “Maintain Safe Speed, Avoid Night Travels And Enjoy Quality Road Experience” at the trailer park in Ogere-Remo, adding that his administration is working and collaborating with all stakeholders in the mobility and transport sector towards reducing the risks of accidents, particularly on the roads,
The Governor decried the worrisome high rate of road traffic crashes recorded especially along the State’s corridor of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway way and charged all road-safety focused institutions like FRSC and other stakeholders to demonstrate the synergy that exists among them to use the event to educate road users on the need to pay particular attention to mitigating factors contributory to road accidents.
“Clearly, drivers, public transport passengers, vehicle owners and the various federal, State and local government institutions have a significant role to play in the reduction of road accidents. I am assured that the campaign being flagged off will address the various roles expected of all identified stakeholders, particularly transporters and drivers, in order that avoidable road mishaps are prevented”, Abiodun submitted.
Abiodun who applauded the Ogun State Ministry of Transportation, the State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) and the for collaborating with the Federal Road Safety Corps in the State for their collaboration towards reducing accidents, informing that plans are ongoing towards constituting the State Road Safety Advisory Council to oversee the implementation of the National Road Safety Strategy seeking a 35% and 50% reduction in fatalities associated respectively with okada and Heavy Goods Vehicles road traffic crashes in the country.
The Governor charged the Federal Roads Safety Corps to sustain the campaign beyond the ‘ember months’ into the new year with same vigour and intensity same until the goals and objectives of the National Road Safety Strategy for the State are achieved and exceeded.
Earlier in his address, the Sector Commander, Ogun State Sector Command of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), SC Ahmed Umar said ember the months campaign was focused on sensitising members of the public about safe mobility, adding that speed and drug abuse were identified as the lead cause of road crashes.
He lamented the alarming rate at which trucks and articulated vehicles got involved in road crashes, especially along the Lagos–Ibadan expressway, adding that 441 trucks and other articulated vehicles were involved out of 1,324 road traffic crashes recorded so far between January and August within Ogun corridor.
He therefore charged truck fleet operators in the State to engage the expertise of FRSC while recruiting drivers to enhance the safety of their vehicles and other road users.
