The Governor of Lagos state, Akinwunmi Ambode has assured the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), of the state government’s determination to collaborate with it in the collective campaigns to make the state roads safer for all users.
The governor gave the assurances while receiving the Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of the FRSC, Boboye Oyeyemi, who came on advocacy visit to the state.
According to Governor Ambode, the partnership between the Lagos state government and the FRSC is imperative in view of the high concentration of traffic volume in the state and the commitment shown by the FRSC in containing the traffic challenges of the state, expressing the readiness of the present administration to tackle the menace of traffic gridlocks head-on.
He further stated that with the rising cases of traffic gridlock being experienced in the state, business and social activities are negatively affected in the affected areas, affirming the determination of the government to come out with measures that could lead to the decongestion of the areas, giving specific example of Apapa.
“The current chaotic traffic situation at Apapa and its environs is worrisome, but we are determined to bring it under firm control within the shortest possible time. All the citizens of the state are genuinely concerned about the situation, and we are prepared to do all we can to effectively manage the situation,” he stated.
“That is why we view this your visit today as timely and an opportunity for us to share ideas on the way forward in traffic management of the state. FRSC no doubt, stands out among the agencies of the Federal Government that we can rely upon to achieve the vision of effective traffic management in the state.
“I assure you that we would partner with you in the task of managing the traffic situation of the state. To this end, we would work to create conducive working environment through logistics and infrastructural support to make your men perform their functions better,” Akinwunmi further stated.
As a demonstration of the commitment to fight the menace of road traffic crashes, especially those involving tankers and trailers, the Governor called for partnership with the FRSC in organizing a summit on road traffic management in the state, stressing that with such joint efforts, it would be clear to everyone that the state and Federal Government are concerned with the unwarranted loss of lives and property from the crashes.
Earlier, the Corps Marshal of FRSC, Boboye Oyeyemi had expressed dismay at the level of destruction caused by trailers and tanker crashes in the year, stating that sixteen cases recorded within two weeks with over 60 lives lost in the inferno was unprecedented in the history of crash occurrence in the country.
He further explained that it was in the demonstration of the commitment of the FRSC to avert future occurrences that he has been in contact with the leadership of the tanker driver’s unions and other relevant stakeholders in transport business, saying that the discussions with them culminated in the National Summit on Haulage Operations held at Abuja in which the Lagos state government actively participated.
“FRSC is grateful to Lagos state government for the steps it has so far taken since the nation started experiencing tanker related crashes this year. We were alarmed by the enormous loss of lives and property, and after rounds of discussions with the relevant stakeholders, we organized the National Summit to further sensitive members of the public on the menace,” he stated.
“A plan of action was drawn up by participants, and the Summit resolved among others to call on the FRSC to organize training and retraining programs for tanker drivers as well as the state governments to develop the capacity of Vehicle Inspection Officers to make them perform their functions more efficiently, so that safety standards will not be compromised in vehicles.
“I want to specially appreciate the Lagos state government for the attention it is paying to issues of road traffic management, as evidenced by the functional licensing system it is operating and the role which its state traffic management agency is playing in urban traffic management. I assure you that FRSC will partner with the state government in the traffic summit being planned to be held in the state,” Oyeyemi further stated.
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