By Correspondent in Lokoja.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Thursday says it has, deployed 870 personnel, 22 patrol vehicles, three Ambulances and a Towing Truck to critical routes and accident prone areas within Kogi state to ensure robust enforcement road rules and regulations to ensure accident-free yuletide.
In this regard, the corps has vowed to rid the Abuja-Okene road, especially the notorious Obajana junction and other points, of gridlock during the Christmas and New Year celebrations in Kogi.
The FRSC Sector Commander, Corps Commander in the state,CC Stephen Dawulung, made the vow at the Corps’ End of Year 2022 Special Intervention Sensitisation Campaign For Gridlock and Crash Prone Areas Nationwide, held in Lokoja, Kogi.
Our Correspondent reports that the campaign, with the theme: “Driving tired is as dangerous as driving drunk: Observe 30 minutes rest period after every four hours,” is the sole initiative of the Acting Corps Marshall, FRSC, Dauda Ali-Biu.
Dawulung explained that the campaign was one of the several strategies initiated by the Acting Corps Marshall and management of the corps wants, to address and remedy causes of road traffic crashes and fatality along specific crash prone areas.
He said that FRSC had, therefore, deployed 870 personnel, 22 patrol vehicles, three Ambulances and a Towing Truck to critical routes and accident prone areas within Kogi to ensure robust enforcement
According to him, this to ensure effective traffic control, prompt removal of obstructions and prompt rescue operations toward the enhancement of safe and free flow of traffic from the North to the South
The online publication reports that Kogi state roads served as links between the North, East and Southern part of the country while the share boundary with at least 8 states thus its roads of the busiest of its kind in the country.
“We have also set up traffic control camps at Katon Karfe, Natako, Zariagi, Kabba, Ajaokuta and Okene for easy traffic control and rescue operations.
“We hope to work in synergy with other relevant stakeholders and security agencies to achieve this goal, ” he said.
He said that the command began its special patrol operation for the yuletide since December 20, with Zero Tolerance to road traffic crashes and fatality, adding that it would to end on Jan 4, 2023.
“It’s unfortunate that it is always within the yuletide that the practice of long and unbroken hours becomes more pronounced, considering the surge in socio-economic activities and large number of passengers/commuters which tempts drivers to stretch their limits, day and night,to make more gains.
“In the process, it exposes drivers to fatigue, drowsiness and sleep with the highest likelihood of crashes with high fatalities.
“Sadly, this is to the detriment of their (motorists) safety and other road users as journeys often times result to crashes with high rates of fatality,” he said.
According to him, to check mate this anomaly, the special intervention Sensitisation Campaign was embarked upon as part of the means adopted by the Corps to allow safe and free flow of traffic during the yuletide.
Dawulung commended Federal and State Governments for the rehabilitation of some roads within the state to enhance traffic flow within the major roads in Kogi.
While wishing all road users safety to their destinations, Dawulung urged motorists to be discipline, cautious, patient and obedient to traffic rules and regulations.
He also urged the public to remember that, road safety is a shared responsibility so, “we need to play our roles well to be alive.”
Our Correspondent reports that the special intervention Sensitisation Campaign rally began at the Obajana junction to other axis around the junction with the sharing of flyers at FRSC Zariagi Unit Command.
With Agency reports
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
