By Harrison Arubu
Abuja – The FCT Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr Gora Wobin, has solicited deeper commitment of commercial vehicle drivers to ensuring safer roads in the territory.
Speaking to newsmen on the sidelines of a sensitisation rally in Abuja on Wednesday, Wobin also reminded passengers of their responsibilities, including reporting reckless drivers to the Corps.
“The message is very simple: let them (drivers) observe traffic rules and regulations.
“Those things that will put them into danger as they are behind the wheels, they should avoid them.
“Let them just do that which will save their lives and also other people’s lives; traffic rules and regulations, key to be observed.
“If a passenger notices that a driver is speeding, above the speed limit, if he gets to the next road safety patrol team, let him report that driver.
“And passengers should not distract the driver from driving, because driving demands 100 per cent concentration. Anything short of that means it is a crash waiting to happen.’’
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the rally, held at the Jabi Motor Park in Abuja, was part of activities marking the 2018 West Africa Road Safety Organisation (WARSO) Day.
Some union leaders at the rally lauded the FRSC for its commitment to safety on the country’s highways, and pledged their continued support and cooperation to advance the Corps’ mandate.
Alh Ibrahim Gaji, the Deputy Chairman, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), FCT Chapter, said there was a cordial working relationship between the union and FRSC.
He said: “Before now, our drivers were against the operations of the FRSC, but through enlightenment, now they have known the importance of road safety.
“Whatever that is happening whether accident or whatever, you will see road safety, they will be there even before the police, and they will render assistance, not to collect any money or whatever.
“With the enlightenment, our drivers now know the importance of not speeding, and that has reduced accidents among our drivers. The relationship of the FRSC with us now is very cordial.’’
Also speaking, Mr Olugbade Olagunju, the chapter’s Secretary, highlighted some measures put in place by the union at the terminal to guard against accidents by its members.
Olagunju explained that the union had constituted a team of vehicle inspectors, that would be responsible for carrying out physical examination of vehicles departing the park on inter-state journeys.
“It (the team) is part of the garage officers. They are there as inspectors. If you are going out of this park, they have to check anything checkable.
“And if there is any defect, somebody will suffer for it in the unit, because somebody is in the unit loading you. He must know what is happening.’’
NAN reports that the West African Road Safety Organisation (WARSO) Day is celebrated on May 8 every year to commemorate the establishment of WARSO, a sub-regional organisation, in 2008.
The event provides an opportunity for the 15 WARSO member countries to review the activities of the organisation in the facing of growing road safety challenges, and forge the way forward.