The National Council on Works has approved the
constitution of a task force to sensitize Nigerians and facilitate the removal
of illegal and inappropriate speed bumps from the Nigerian roads as well as
determine the correct location and types of speed bumps to be erected on the
nation’s highways.
This formed part of memoranda submitted by the Federal
Road Safety Corps and the resolutions arising from the 22nd meeting
of the National Council on Works in Katsina State with the theme “Prioritization
and Optimization of Allocated Infrastructure Funds”.
According to the Council, most of the road traffic
crashes which occur on the highways could be traced to the presence of
inappropriate speed bumps which do not comply with contemporary global
standards on road markings and signages.
The Council therefore endorsed the constitution of a
special task force to be led by the Federal Controllers of Works in each state,
Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigeria Police, State Traffic Management Agencies and
affected communities to sensitize and facilitate removal of illegal and
inappropriate speed bumps from Nigerian highways, in addition to determining
the exact location and type of speed bumps to be erected on our highways as
part of measures to reverse the trend of avoidable road traffic crashes
According to Bisi Kazeem,
Head , Media Relations and Strategy, FRSC, the Honorable Minister of Power,
Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola indicated his Ministry’s support for the
Federal Road Safety Corps’ sustained initiatives towards enthroning safer road
use in Nigeria such as the reduction of speed limit violation through the
introduction of speed limiters on vehicles, educate road users about safety and
enforce the law against unqualified drivers from using our highways and reduce
the danger they pose to themselves and other citizens.
Speaking
further, he said “Let me express my support for a road safety initiative that
the FRSC is set to commence in our highways in order to promote safety. They
plan to increase highway patrols and ensure that motorists stay and maintain
the use of the right lane unless they are overtaking” he said.
Fashola
also added that “This is in accord with global best practice and FRSC plans a
pilot programme that will increase slowly until nationwide coverage is
achieved”.
On
violation of the Federal Highway Act, Fashola also stated that the full width
of the highways has been encroached by illegal activity in the name of trading
and business. “When we spend money to build a road of two or three lanes
and one or two lanes are taken over by trucks parked on them, or traders
positioned on them, it constricts movement, causes traffic, results in lost man
hours and stifles the economy. This is not the way to build property and it
must stop”.
He
therefore solicited for the support of the state governments to work with the
Federal Controllers of Works to recover the right-of-way.
“Let
me be clear. I am not against trade. Indeed, improved trade and commerce is
what the economy needs most. The roads that my ministry is charged to build and
repair are meant to boost trade and commerce”.
According
to the Honorable Minister, trade and commerce that takes place right on the
highway or within the 45.72 metres right-of-way is illegal counter-productive,
adding that the following objectives will be pursued vigorously: “It is not to
relocate or drive away traders, it is to locate them to the set back of the
45.72 metres right way and we will not compromise on this. If the first thing
we achieve is the recovery of the right-of-way, commuters will be able to
report a better traveling experience this December”.
The
Minister also frowned on the sad and unpatriotic activities of petroleum
products transporters who carry cargoes of up to 60,000 litres on the highways,
instead of the maximum of 33,000 litres approved by law thus exceeding the
capacity of load recommended for the Nigerian highways, with attendant grievous
consequences on the state of the roads.
In
a related development, the Governor of Katsina State, Rt. Hon. Aminu Bello
Masari recalled that the annual National Council on Works is the highest policy
making body on roads infrastructural development which enable stakeholders to
discuss policies and challenges on roads development in Nigeria.
He
also described the theme for the conference as apt and timely in view of the
present economic challenges facing road infrastructure development in Nigeria
and the need to utilize the available human capacity within the sector, to
design policies on road development, in addition to transparency and political
will.
Speaking
further, Hon Masari also stated that the need for a holistic efforts to be made
towards improving the quality of lives in the country. He made this observation
against the backdrop of poor road culture in Nigeria where about 50% of
vehicles that ply our roads are unlicensed and unqualified drivers who resort
to the use of rickety vehicles which are often overloaded thus endangering the
lives of its occupants and other road users.
He
therefore urged for strong collaboration between the FRSC, the Vehicle
Inspection Officers and other relevant government agencies to ensure reversal
of this unhealthy development.
Part
of the resolutions endorsed by the Council include the prioritization and
optimization of road infrastructure funds, road safety, road transport policy,
road construction and rehabilitation, surveying and mapping, in addition to the
role of professionals (Engineers and Quantity Surveyors, Technicians and
Artisans in the Works Sector).
The
meeting of the National Council of Works also had in attendance, the Honorable
Minister of State, Hon. Mustapha Shehuri, House Committee Chairman on Works,
Corps Marshal, FRSC, Executive Chairman, Federal Character Commission,
Commissioners responsible for Works matters in the States of the federation as
well as regulatory bodies and other stakeholders.
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