By Diana Omueza
Abuja, – Christian Empowerment Forum (CEF), a non-governmental organisation, has advised Nigerians to observe traffic rules and obey road instructions while celebrating the Christmas and new year.
Mr Ifunnaya Ogbonnaya, Executive Director of the group, gave the advice on Tuesday in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
Ogbonnaya said that there was a need for road users to pay more attention to road and driving rules and regulation to prevent sad events while celebrating.
According to him, the Christmas and new year period is one of the seasons where road accidents of all types are heightened.
“All road users both those trekking or walking, those on motor bikes and tricycles and those in vehicles, must all be extra careful.
“A lot of accident can be avoided if traffic rules and road instructions are carefully and deliberately adhered too.
“Commuters in commercial vehicles should learn to caution drivers who go against traffic rules; because road safety is for the benefits of all,” he said.
The director cautioned against drunk-driving, car partying, speeding and careless and dangerous overtaking.
He cautioned those who are always trying to cut corners, or shorten their movements by driving against traffic to refrain from such acts.
According to him, the act of one-way driving which is a reported major cause of road accidents must be refrained from.
“Anyone who wants to avoid or beat traffic or go-slow as we call it, must make deliberate efforts to depart from their location in time to arrive in their destination early and safe.
“If we all do this, we would not endanger our lives and those of other road users and the yuletide celebration will be complete without any sad event,” he said.
Ogbonnaya encouraged Nigerians not to limit the celebration to family and friends alone but to extend the love and blessings to orphans, prisoners and to those in the hospital.
This, he said, were among the numerous reasons Christ was born to share and give love to everyone regardless of ethnicity, religion and background.