By Salisu Sani-Idris
Abuja – The Federal Capital Territory Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board on Friday reached an agreement with the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), FCT Command, to train intending Pilgrims.
The Acting Director of the Board, Alhaji Shehu Abubakar, made the announcement when the FCT Sector Commander, FRSC, Mr Sunday Oghenekaro paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja.
Abubakar said that partnership with the FRSC would go a long way in educating the intending pilgrims on how to use busy traffic roads while on spiritual journey in Saudi Arabia.
He added that the awareness would prevent the intending pilgrims from violating traffic rules and regulations and from being knocked down by vehicles during the peak of hajj activities.
The acting director said that due to low level of exposure, some intending pilgrims were not conversant with road safety tips, especially the usage of pedestrian bridge.
He, therefore, stressed the need for the inclusion of road safety education in the orientation and manual of intending pilgrims.
Abubakar disclosed that the board was mapping out strategy to improve on the education and orientation programme for the intending pilgrims that would ensure successes in the 2017 hajj.
Responding, the FCT Sector Commander, FRSC, Sunday Oghenekaro said that the visit was in line with desire of the FRSC to enlighten government agencies of its activities to ensure safety on the roads.
He explained that the FRSC also enlighten the resident of the FCT on the advantages of using pedestrian bridges to avert lost of lives while crossing roads in the FCT.
Oghenekaro said that the FRSC had commenced enforcement of the usage of Speed Limiting Device on vehicles with the aim of reducing the rate of accidents due to speeding.
He expressed the readiness of the FRSC to collaborate with the board in educating the intending pilgrims on road safety during the hajj.