In
line with the 2017 strategic goals of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and
in its determination to sustain the current level of collaboration with
relevant road safety stakeholders in the country, for success of road safety
campaign in the new year, the Corps Marshal, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi paid advocacy
visits to the leadership of some transport unions in the country.
In
a press release by Bisi Kazeem, Head , Media Relations and Strategy, FRSC, during
the advocacy visits, Oyeyemi stated that he decided to take the campaign to
their doorsteps in view of their strategic role in the success of road safety
campaigns being embarked upon by the FRSC, and to specially thank them for the
support the Corps received from them and their members during the 2016 end of
year special patrol. According to him, road safety is a shared responsibility,
and FRSC as the custodian of road safety in the country was aware of the need
for collaboration with relevant stakeholders in the collective efforts to
achieve success in road safety campaigns.
Oyeyemi
expressed appreciation to the leadership and members of the unions for working
harmoniously with the FRSC in its determination to restore sanity on the
nation’s highways, noting that without such partnership, it would be difficult
for any organization to do it alone. The Corps Marshal further stated that
after reviewing last year’s operation, Management has noted with deep
appreciation, the level of collaboration extended to the Corps by the relevant
stakeholders, which led to the successes recorded in the operation.
He
added that in sustaining the spirit of that collaboration, the FRSC is willing
to work with the unions to further achieve the desired safety on the nation’s
highways as the New Year commences. “That is why I have decided to undertake
this visit and to specially thank you for the support we have been receiving
from you in all our road safety programmes,” he stated.
“The
last end of year special patrol was particularly a huge success, as the focus
of the exercise, which were on creating safer and freer roads during the period
were largely achieved, with few cases of road obstructions, death and injuries.
“We
couldn’t have achieved the feats without the support which you and your members
gave to us, either by your physical participation in patrol or your members
complying with the traffic rules and regulations. This spirit of collaboration
should be sustained in the new year in the interest of road users,” Oyeyemi
stated.
On
the enforcement of speed limiters this year, the Corps Marshal noted with
satisfaction the positive attitudes of the leaders of the unions towards the
use of the device, stressing that their inputs led to the resolutions by
stakeholders to adopt the device as a control measure to speed-related crashes
and deaths. He added that with regular consultations he has maintained with the
stakeholders and need for crisis-free enforcement of the use of the device,
there was the continuing need to remind the unions of the impending date of
enforcement, which is 1st February 2017, describing the date as
“sacrosanct.”
The
Corps Marshal called on all members of the unions to work assiduously towards
the date by ensuring that their vehicles are installed with the device in line
with the presidential directives and commitments earlier made the union
leaders.
In
their various responses, the union leaders thanked the Corps Marshal for the
visit which they described as a great honour to them. They further noted that
with the visit and sincere commitment shown by the FRSC Management to sustain
its collaboration with relevant stakeholders, they have no alternative but to
continue to support all the road safety initiatives being promoted by the FRSC.
They
further pledged to take the message of road safety to their message and ensure
that they all install the speed limiters in their vehicles and adhere to
minimum safety standards in their vehicles before the enforcement date, to
avoid any inconveniences that could affect their smooth operation for non
compliance with the rules.
Among
the union leaders visited were the National President of the National Union of
Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Nazeem Yasin; The National President of
Petroleum Tankers Division of the National Union of Petroleum and Gas
(PTD-NUPENG), Otumba Salmon Akanni Oladiti and National President of the
National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Alhaji Kassim
Ibrahim Bataiya.
The
Corps Marshal was accompanied on the visit by some principal officers of the
FRSC.
Tags
Society