By Dada Ahmed.
The newly elected executive council of the Road Users Development Network of Nigeria (RUDEN), has promised members that it would return RUDEN to its past glory to enable it achieve its aims and objectives of effective traffic management in Nigeria.
The President and Executive Director of the NGO, Comrade Hakeem Sumonu (Oga Driver), gave the promise on Saturday in a telephone interview with the Correspondent of The Reporters from Abuja, shortly after his electÃon and members of his council which took place at FRSC Command office, Nyanya, FCT.
He said: “It is our burning desire to see that RUDEN goes back to its past glory of ensuring effective management of Nigerian roads, with a view to seeing them roads okay and accident reduced to the barest minimum.
“We will hit ground running by embarking on an aggressive public enlightenment campaign, on the need for road users to keep to traffic rules and regulations to curb the loss of human lives.
“Members will also be made to visit roads to write the wrong as far as traffic is concerned, including patching road potholes.where necessary or mobilise the people that will do the job to the ease traffic challenges for motorists.
“If the roads are properly maintained, no driver will have cause to be avoiding potholes and in the end, collide with in coming vehicle,”he said.
“We are also going to write the Federal Ministry of Works and visit Kogi,Niger, and Nasarawa state governments,,to enlighten them on the mission and vision of RUDEN, vis a vis its role in ensuring smooth traffic and road maintenance in the country,”he said.
The new RUDEN boss also promised to write the federal and all the states that share border with the Federal Capital Territory, FCT,on the need to do the needful on the roads that enter the territory by maintaining and expanding them to make the facilities accessive by motorists and other road users.
Sumonu, who promised to reach out to the aggrieved party in the NGO, urged them to join hands with his executive council to move the NGO to the next level of development and in fulfilment of its basic aims and objectives.
He thanked members for their cooperation for the peaceful electÃon in which most candidates that contested were returned unopposed.
Other elected officers are: Comrade Ibrahim Waka, Deputy President, North, Samuel, Deputy President, South,Hon.Ocholi, Secretary while the post of road traffic and emergency went to Pharm. Beatrice Urume among others.
