By Dwelleth Morountodun
The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN, has disclosed that injuries and avoidable accidents
that occur on our highways were not always as the result of bad roads as claimed by road users, but largely due to over speeding and recklessness of drivers, adding that no driver speeds on bad roads.
Fashola stated this in a statement signed by Mr. Theordore Agbagwa of the ministry in Abuja yesterday at a capacity building workshop on the activation of the five United Nations’ Convention on Road Traffic acceded to by Nigeria.
He stated that the workshop underscored the importance and commitment of President MuhammaduBuhari’s administration on the safety of lives of all Nigerians.
The Minister maintained that injuries and avoidable accidents that occur daily on our Highways is a regrettable concern to his Ministry, stressing that there is no state in Nigeria that the Federal Government is not executing one road project or the other. He added that his Ministry will soon embark on massive deployment of manpower for the erection of additional road signs which will ultimately provide the guide, support and direction for road users.
While noting the reduction on road crashes on our highways, the Minister charged the Federal Road Safety Corps to intensify effort on public enlightenment campaign, orientation and education of drivers to be of good behaviour while on our Highways to ensure safety of lives and properties.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Capital Territory sir Chinyeaka Oha on behalf of his Minister, Mohammed Bello, lauded the officials of the FRSC for recording a tremendous success in the reduction of road accident, stressing that the Federal Capital Territory Administration will continue to provide the necessary support to ensure that roads within its jurisdiction is made safe for users.
In his remarks, the Corp Marshal, Dr. BoboyeOyeyemi, disclosed that his organisation wouldn’t have flourished successfully if not for the wonderful support they enjoy from the stakeholders in the road and transport sector. He also expressed immense gratitude to the United Nation’s Envoy for sponsoring the capacity building workshop.