EMBER MONTH: Lagos FRSC Commander, Hamzat Urges Commuters To Avoid Indifference, Distractions During Ember Travels, Says ‘Passengers Are Most Affected In Traffic Crashes’
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EMBER MONTH: Lagos FRSC Commander, Hamzat Urges Commuters To Avoid Indifference, Distractions During Ember Travels, Says ‘Passengers Are Most Affected In Traffic Crashes’
The Federal Road Safety Corps, Lagos Sector Command has flagged off its Ember Months sensitization campaign for Year 2024. The road safety campaign themed ‘SPEAK UP AGAINST DANGEROUS DRIVING: CRASHES KILL MORE PASSENGERS THAN DRIVERS’ aims not to only enhance the road transportation sector by changing drivers’ behavior but also to position Nigeria as a safety conscious nation in the global community, National Association of Online Security News Publishers, NAOSNP can report.
The flag-off campaign was attended by officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps, management and staff of Guinness Nigeria PLC, members of the NURTW, journalists, and other stakeholders at the Sector Command Headquarters, Ojodu.
Speaking at the press conference to flag off the sensitization campaign, the FRSC Lagos Sector Commander, CC Kehinde Hamzat emphasized that the ember months mark a time when Nigerians travel extensively across the country. ‘This is largely due to the season’s significance, which provides opportunities for family reunions, festivals, meetings, and ceremonies. As a result, our roads typically experience heavy traffic, congestion, road crashes, and regrettably, the loss of lives and properties. This situation is worsened by the reckless behaviors of some motorists, creating a distressing environment for travelers, government agencies, and stakeholders, including the FRSC.’
‘In the light of this, the Corps has intensified its efforts to ensure smooth traffic flow, reduce road crashes, and create a safer motoring environment nationwide. To achieve this, the Corps Marshal has directed the immediate commencement of Mega Public Enlightenment, Sensitization Campaigns in all commands nationwide while enforcement has been placed on red alert. On this note, the Corps has reassessed the state of road safety and traffic management in Nigeria, with a focus on reviewing and improving our strategies in all fronts.’
‘As part of this, we have revised our public education strategy, introducing new dynamic approaches. These include mega town hall meetings, motorcades, transit, rest areas, and loading bays advocacy. This strategy arose from the need to engage passengers and encourage them to assert their rights, thereby curbing drivers’ excesses, because it is on record that more passengers are killed in road traffic crashes than drivers, hence the need to take up the responsibility of being more vigilant while in transit. The core of this approach is the alarming number of road traffic crashes in Nigeria, which claims many lives. While various factors contribute to these crashes, behavior and passengers’ indifference to reckless driving are major contributors.’
Addressing passengers, he said: ‘To implement this approach, we are focusing on re-educating passengers and helping them understand their rights. The agreement between the driver and the passenger is clear: the driver must ensure the passenger reaches their destination safely. Passengers have a right not to be injured, killed, harassed, or have their rights violated. By empowering passengers, we aim to reduce road traffic crashes. The Corps Marshal has directed all Commands Nationwide to actively engage commuters, ensuring they are familiar with safety regulations, report reckless driving, use seatbelts, and support responsible driving. Passengers must avoid distractions and contribute to safe road use. This is because, often times than not, passengers are the most affected in the event of traffic crashes, hence the need for them to start speaking up.
On this note, going forward, the Corps will fully be committed to its responsibility of educating all road users. We believe that by empowering them with the right knowledge, we can reduce road traffic crashes, injuries, and fatalities. Finally, the task of ensuring a safer motoring environment in Nigeria is a crucial and collective responsibility. Relevant stakeholders in road transportation sector are invited to work together with the Corps to address road carnage. Motorists are expected to take full responsibility of their actions and inactions on the road by maintaining their vehicles, obeying traffic laws, and other road regulations. We must take proactive steps to provide hope, not fear when using our roads as the consequences of our actions or inactions will be severe if we fail to address these challenges’, Hamzat stated.
On his part, the representative of Guinness Nigeria, Mr. Rotimi Odusola noted that the global conglomerate has had an enriching relationship with the FRSC and particularly the Lagos sector Command for about 23 years. It is consistently and unbroken. ‘We remain committed to this partnership with the Federal Road Safety Corps. We will continue to support the efforts of the Federal road safety Corps. This year, we are also particularly pleased that there is a new approach. And I dare say, it is great that there is a new approach to education. And if we look at this theme of the campaign this year, emphasizing the fact that, as a matter of fact, more people, persons, communities, even innocent bystanders sometimes, suffer from irresponsible driving or reckless driving than the actual drivers. And for that reason, I want to commend the Federal Road Safety Corps for introducing this vigorous, effective approach. We are pleased to be part of this. We are looking forward to all of the activities that are being planned for this year.’
‘I would like to add that some of the products that we manufacture, iconic products, brands that many people in the room are familiar with, do have alcohol in them. Alcohol is something that is ingrained in our DNA. But if you choose to consume alcohol, firstly, you must be of age. In Nigeria, you cannot consume alcohol unless you are of the age of 18. And if you don’t choose to consume alcohol, it is extremely important. There is no other permissible way of doing this unless you are able to responsibly. If you are going to operate a vehicle, do not consume alcohol at all. That is our message.’
‘In Guinness Nigeria, to demonstrate how committed we are to responsible consumption of alcohol and not drinking and driving, for several years, we have had a unit of the Special Marshal Guinness Nigeria employees and former employees have been an active unit of the Special Marshal which has been up for many years to just demonstrate that as an organization, we take this mandate very seriously. On that note, I want to thank you sir, for giving us the opportunity to continue the partnership with you. I want to thank everyone, the Special Marshal, the wives of the road safety officers, and everyone that is committed to this message.’
