Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun on Wednesday inaugurated the State Road Safety Advisory Committee with a charge to the members to work assiduously to reduce road crashes in the state.
Abiodun, at the ceremony in Abeokuta announced his deputy, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, as the chairman of the committee and reiterated his administration’s commitment to enforcing speed limits to reduce carnages on the roads.
The governor also announced plans to install speed readers and cameras on the roads to monitor level of compliance with traffic rules and regulations.
Abiodun added that the state Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE) would be provided with adequate equipment, while the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) would be repositioned to ensure that vehicles plying the roads were in good condition.
“We have observed the rapid increase of accidents on some of our newly completed roads. Consequently, we will be enforcing speed limits with speed readers and camera.
“We will also provide emergency services, such as tow truck, ambulances and fire trucks to assist accident victims,” he said.
Abiodun, who stressed the importance of good roads in the socio-economic development of any state, noted that his administration had established a good transportation system through multi-dimensional strategies.
He listed the measures as including establishment of a mass bus transit and the construction and rehabilitation of about 600 km of roads across the state.
Abiodun lauded the Federal Government for setting up the Nigeria Road Safety Strategy, adding that plans were underway to partner with feederal government and industries domiciled in the state to reconstruct some roads in the state under the Free – Tax system.
In his remarks, Mr Ahmed Umar, Ogun Sector Commander of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), said that the development would help to check carnages in the state.
Speaking on Nigeria Road Safety Strategy, Umar, who is secretary of the committee, said the measure was part of plans to improve safety on Nigerian roads in line with global best practices.
(NAN)