By Promise Oshewa
Ogun State command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has concluded plans to mark the year’s united Nation’s Road Safety week.
According to Mr Clement Oladele, the sector commander, FRSC Ogun state took the decision due to its bid to reduce the number of crashes and incidents on our roads.
He stated that; “A total of one hundred and seventy seven (177) road crashes were recorded across Ogun State during the first quarter of this year. These crashes claimed one hundred and two (102) lives while FRSC Rescue Teams rescued a total of four hundred and seventy three (473) injured persons and took them to various hospitals across the State”.
“The Command wishes to alert motorists of some crash prone spots along the Abeokuta – Sagamu highway. This highway accounted for 12 deaths in 16 road crashes recorded during the first quarter of this year while Rescue Teams of FRSC Ogun State Sector Command rescued 41 persons injured in the 12 crashes along the highway. Motorists are hereby advised to drive cautiously at the bend adjacent Muhammadu Buhari Estate along the highway. Three (3) crashes that claimed three (3) lives were recorded around the Estate during the first quarter of the year. Other crash prone locations along the highway are Kobape junction, Day Waterman junction, Adedero and Siun. Motorists should drive carefully at these dangerous locations and not exceed 80km/hr while travelling along this highway”.
He went on further to say that, “FRSC Ogun State Command is also working hard to better manage vehicular traffic along the Lagos – Otta – Ifo – Abeokuta expressway. The Command will continue to ensure that traffic gridlock is prevented at the stretch of road around Iyana-Ilogbo where Julius Berger Nigeria Plc is undertaking re-construction work. FRSC Ogun State Command will also sustain its prompt response to traffic incidents such as crashes and gridlocks along this expressway. Furthermore, FRSC Ogun State Command will continue to put in its best to ensure traffic flows steadily at the Mowe/Ibafo construction stretch of the Lagos – Ibadan expressway.”
“This expressway, a 127.6 long kilometer highway, is the most critical to FRSC Ogun State Command. Of the entire length of the Lagos – Ibadan expressway, a span of 10 kilometers has posed daunting challenges to the Corps. Managing traffic along the 5 kilometer stretch of road from Sandcrest to Fidiwo, around Ogunmakin where Reynolds Construction Company (RCC) is carrying out construction work and another 5 kilometer stretch from Ibafo to Magboro where Julius Berger Nigeria Plc is also undertaking construction work has been a very tasking job for FRSC Ogun State Command and its operatives. Most of the road crashes and injuries recorded in Ogun State over the past eighteen months happened at road construction areas. FRSC has it on record that about twenty five thousand vehicles ply the Lagos – Ibadan expressway daily”.
“The task of ensuring smooth and orderly flow of traffic becomes herculean when some motorists upon approaching a construction zone where speed should normally be reduced for the safety of construction workers and other motorists, become apprehensive and may even be unruly with some attempting to drive against traffic. Motorists apprehended for driving against traffic along the Lagos – Ibadan expressway or any other highway in the State would be booked for Dangerous Driving and Route Violation and may be prosecuted in Court. Motorists are advised to drive cautiously, cooperate with FRSC personnel on duty and avoid route violation and hopping between lanes along highways in the State. Extra caution should be taken at construction areas along the Lagos – Ibadan and Lagos – Abeokuta expressways. FRSC Ogun State Command hereby restates that motorists adhere to the maximum speed of 50km/hr at construction zones on highways in Ogun State. Motorists are also urged to call FRSC’s toll free line 122 to report traffic incidents nationwide”.
As FRSC Ogun State Command commemorates this year’s UN Road Safety Week, it hopes for renewed cooperation, patience and commitment to safety by all motorists in the State.
The Global Road Safety Week started with the adoption of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly Resolution A/60/5 in October 2005, aimed at improving the safety of roads globally. The Federal Road Safety Corps, being an International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Certified agency, the only ISO certified Law Enforcement Agency in Africa and the lead traffic management agency in Nigeria has over the years committed to highway safety and the implementation of UN Road Safety Resolutions.
The UN Road Safety Week (06 to 12 May 2019), which also coincides with the West Africa Road Safety Organization (WARSO) Day scheduled for 08 May 2019, has the theme Leadership for Road Safety. The theme for the WARSO Day is Evaluating Road Safety Performances in West Africa.
