FRSC INSIGHT

Improving Nigeria’s transportation system via the Dutch model

enakireru — Thu, 23 May 2013 08:13:22 +0000

By most accounts, an effective transportation system is a fundamental component of any solid economy, as it enables the citizens to achieve their set goals at appointed schedules. The Netherlands or Holland, as it is unofficially referred to, has a very organised and unique transport system that makes it easy for its citizens to move around.
The major means of transportation in the Netherlands are bicycles, cars, buses and trains. Bicycles are the preferred means of transportation for short distances in the country and many riders usually park their bicycles at designated spots at bus or train stations while going on long journeys.

Similarly, most people often drive their cars to these stations and park there before going aboard buses or trains for longer trips.
Some even haul their bicycles into trains, while setting out on long journeys, to enable them to use the bicycles to complete their journeys after disembarking from the trains.

Riding a bicycle in the Netherlands is somewhat a thing of pride and it is not restricted to any particular status of class because every citizen of Holland, from 15 years and above, owns a bicycle.
Besides, there is always a train in every 20 minutes at every train station, while a bus leaves a bus stop in every 30 minutes.
Whenever there is going to be a delay in the arrival of a train at a railway station, the expected period of delay would be displayed on the electronic board at the station and this is usually about 5 minutes and never more than 20 minutes.

And within five minutes or ten minutes later, depending on the time indicated on the electronic board, the train arrives.
Even train or bus commuters in the Netherlands can check arrival or departure times for trains and buses on the Internet, meaning that they do not have to linger at the stations waiting for the arrival of a train or bus.
Mr Edwin Van-Scherrenburg, the Public Relations Officer of Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS), the Dutch railway company, however, conceded that the country’s weather was largely unfavourable to the transport business.

He noted that the snow in winter and the falling leaves from trees in autumn, for instance, usually made it somewhat difficult for trains to operate efficiently during the seasons.
Van-Scherrenburg, however, said that in spite of these challenges, some measures were put in place to ensure that passengers were not delayed for too long.
One notable feature of the transportation system of the Netherlands is the synergy between buses and trains. Information usually comes on the bus about the next train and the nearest train station and so, if you are interested in catching a train, the information becomes quite handy.
Van-Scherrenburg expatiated that the symbiotic relationship between NS and bus companies was aimed at connecting the two modes of transportation in a way that would ensure the smooth movement of passengers, while reducing travel disruptions via unnecessary delays.
He, nonetheless, acknowledged that there was still room for improvement, saying: “We are continuously looking for ways to improve the relationship.’’
Funny enough, you hardly hear anyone in the Netherlands talking about boarding a plane to another part of the country. Planes are only used by those travelling outside the country.
Some Nigerians, who have lived and worked in the Netherlands for some years, attested to the efficiency of the Dutch transport system.
They agreed that if the system was adopted by Nigeria, living in the country would be well structured, orderly and more appealing.
Mr Kingley Ogbuneke, who has lived in the Netherlands for over four years, said that the country’s transportation system was so effective, noting that trains and buses usually kept to scheduled travel times.
“These days, you can hook on to the Internet and know the precise time you’ll be arriving at your destination; honestly, it will work exactly that way,’’ he added.
Ogbuneke, however, noted with disappointment that Nigeria’s transportation system was still facing a huge challenge, even after five decades of political independence.
“In Nigeria, we still rely heavily on private vehicles for our transportation because our public transportation system is not well organised,’’ he said.
Ogbuneke stressed that if more resources were invested in the country’s transport sector, the ordinary Nigerian would not have to rely solely of private vehicles for his or her transportation.
“Here in the Netherlands, people hardly use their cars because the public transportation system is very effective,’’ he added.
Ms Sylivia Oheme has been living in the Netherlands for the past 20 years.
She said that the Dutch transport sector was well structured and organised, stressing that for instance, when a person wanted to travel from Amsterdam to The Hague, he or she would know exactly how long the journey would take, barring instances where there were a few minutes’ delays.
Oheme emphasised that Holland’s transport sector was very efficient because of the constant electricity supply in the country
She particularly attributed the efficiency of the country’s railways to the stable electricity, as the trains are all electricity powered trains.
“Here the Prime Minster rides bicycles, the Prince rides bicycles; even the Queen rides bicycles and I ride bicycle too; and we all enjoy it.
“In the Netherlands, cycling is a way of life; the mere fact that you see a man riding a bicycle does not mean he is poor.
“It also takes a lot of pressure off the roads as well,’’ she added.
Oheme bemoaned the fact that road transportation was the in-thing in Nigeria, as the country’s railways was now in a derelict state.
She recalled with nostalgia how she took a train ride from Lagos to Jos in the 1970s and lamented that government and other stakeholders allowed the railways to go into a comatose state.
In the Netherlands, rail transportation is very popular, as trains are readily available. There are also trams and bus networks in and around the major cities, while an extensive railway system connects all the cities.
Besides, there are concentric canals around the cities, especially Amsterdam, the country’s capital, where tourists could make boat trips.
In spite of the unpredictable nature of the country’s weather, the citizens of the Netherlands still ensure that everything in their country works.
The orderliness of the country will surely excite a first-time visitor and official statistics from the Dutch government reveal that not less than 10,000 Nigerians reside in the Netherlands.
Analysts, however, maintain that Nigeria stands to gain a lot by adopting the Dutch patterns of development.
They insist that Nigeria should make tangible efforts to take a cue from the Dutch development patterns if she is truly serious about its ambition to transform into one of the world’s 20 largest economies by the year 2020.

FROM: Peoples Daily

SOURCE: http://peoplesdailyng.com/improving-nigerias-transportation-system-via-the-dutch-model/

Road safety in the eyes of today’s ICT

enakireru — Mon, 20 May 2013 10:04:42 +0000

World’s statistics – according to “Global status report on road safety 2013″, reveal that there are 3400 road traffic deaths everyday. This translates to a minimum of 2 (2.36) deaths per minute coupled with 30 to 95 road traffic inflicted injuries and fatalities every minute, and about 31 pedestrians losing their lives every hour. Young adults aged between 15 and 44 years account for 65% of global road traffic deaths with 77% of them occurring among men. Not surprisingly, more than 90% of deaths that result from road traffic injuries occur in low- and middle-income countries of the African and Eastern Mediterranean regions.
These figures are bewildering, daunting and unacceptable but however, this extant situation is largely preventable or avoidable. Incidentally, projections indicate that these figures will unfortunately increase by about 65% over the next 20years unless there is new commitment to prevention. Aside these irretrievable human capital losses are also economic losses to victims, their families, and to nations as a whole. Indeed, national estimates have illustrated that road traffic crashes cost countries between 1-3% of their Gross National Product (GNP).
Understandably, Nigeria’s extant road carnage underscores the foregoing world statistics. In his brilliant paper “Federal Road Safety Corps – The journey so far” delivered to a national audience of the National Television Authority (NTA) on 8 March 2012, the FRSC helmsman – Osita Chidoka OFR, declared that between 1970 and 1980 there were 317,838 road traffic crashes resulting in 65,972 deaths. This number of road traffic deaths translates to about 18 deaths per day, on the average. Moving forward, he posited that in 2011 alone, the average number of road traffic deaths per state was 118 in 129 road crashes per state, on the average. Paradoxically, the paper reveals that Oyo state the trailblazer in road safety management, had the highest figure of 300 road traffic deaths in about 475 crashes in 2011. From the foregoing, the average number of road traffic deaths in 2011 for the whole country therefore translates to about 12 deaths per day as against 18 deaths per day, between 1970 and 1980, on the average.
By extension, whereas, 79.24% of lives were saved in 317,838 road crashes between 1970 and 1980 on the average, only an abysmal 8.53% of lives were saved in 4,773 accidents in 2011, on the average. This amazing disparity in lives saved is in contradistinction to the improvement achieved in the number of road traffic deaths in the period under scrutiny. It is not only flummoxing, it simply presents a microcosm of the state of our nation, Nigeria today. This roller coaster situation therefore calls for proper examination and some urgent and concerted efforts at saving more or all lives on our roads, not only by FRSC but also the Federal Ministry of Health in concert with all our emergency agencies across the country. After all, the FRSC and other emergency agencies start by identifying, locating crash sites, carrying out exigent first-aid and emergency treatments and finally evacuating all victims to the nearest hospitals, clinics or medical centres. As the 2011 figures for the number of road traffic deaths in comparison to the actual number of road crashes depict an appalling and startling effectiveness at saving lives, then, aside other issues, the adequacy of medical facilities and capacity of appropriate medical attention under pressure, therefrom, leave much to be desired.
In recognition of this year’s theme, it is incumbent on road traffic and road safety management operatives to exploit the sprawling footprints and power of ICT to augment and enhance the well-established methods of keeping safe roads. These methods include – road safety campaigns and advertisements, driver education and training to control road user behaviour, road safety prevention and media coverage, and inclusion of first-aid training during licensing processes. Attention should also be paid to a greater use of multi-disciplinary crash investigations, supporting greater implementation of its technologies and reducing causalities at level crossings and promoting effective implementation of the 1968 Convention on Road Signs and Signals, amongst many other UN legal instruments for road safety – Conventions and Agreements. And in every decision made by the operatives of road safety management, special cognizance should be taken of the most vulnerable groups: pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.
The promotion and development of intelligent transport systems that utilize ICT footprints to control and monitor traffic flows thereby preventing traffic accidents should be encouraged. It is however, relevant to examine the often overlooked “peril and promise” of technology regarding the plethora of ICT devices – mobile phones and in-car navigational systems that are essentially designed for motorists’ comfort and convenience but which their unsafe use cause avoidable technology-related distractions thereby leading to road accidents some of which culminate in deaths, injuries and other fatalities. Indeed, the uses of safe user-interfaces such as hands-free devices in vehicles and in-car radars for collision avoidance are created to eliminate such technology-related distractions. These measures will not only prevent traffic accidents but also improve efficiencies in traffic management as means of combating the effects of climate change.
In Nigeria, there is no gainsaying that there is paucity of basic national legislation in the area of road safety. Incidentally, even the legislations that exist in other areas including other sectors of the economy – lack of enforcement, delayed or contrived judgment, proclivity for non-compliance and impunity from punishment or justice for some offending motorists – all combine forces to render law and order ineffectual thereby making our roads more unsafe for all. And thus, the promise by FRSC to reduce road traffic deaths and injuries by 50% in year 2020 could remain a dream if such irreverent lacuna persists.
The startling and unacceptable world’s statistics regarding road traffic deaths and injuries lend credence to the appropriateness of this year’s theme – “ICTs and improving road safety”, especially so that the day – 17 May 2013, falls within the declared “Decade for Action for Road Safety” by UN. It is therefore essential to incorporate ICT footprints and legislation with enforcement in keeping safe roads, as they form the necessary building blocks to creating a solid foundation for road safety in the world, more so in developing countries especially Nigeria.
As a final word – in Nigeria, how many more lives can we save if we integrate the use of our underutilized satellite systems whose footprints involving Global Positioning System (GPS), can capture road accident sites in real-time and simultaneously transmit the ensuing information to FRSC and other emergency agencies including medical centres and even the police? And also, how many more lives can we save should we translate all traffic-related documents especially the Federal Highway Code, into some Nigerian languages for an essentially non English-speaking population or motorists?

FROM: Peoples Daily

SOURCE: http://peoplesdailyng.com/road-safety-in-the-eyes-of-todays-ict/

UN, FRSC urge compliance with zebra crossing

enakireru — Wed, 15 May 2013 07:36:54 +0000

The United Nations (UN) and road safety organisations have urged motorists to cultivate the culture of adhering to zebra crossing signs, to ensure the safety of pedestrians on the roads.

The decision was arrived at, at the weekend when hundreds of Nigerians, including road safety officers, staged a walk on the streets of Lagos to commemorate the UN Global Road Safety Week, with the theme: ‘Make Walking Safe’.

The walk, which began from Omole Phase II through Berger to the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) office at Ojodu, was organised by the Temidayo Ogan Child Safety and Support Foundation (TOCSS), a non-government organisation in partnership with the Lagos State Government.

The National Focal Person, UN Decade of Action on Road Safety in Nigeria, Dr. Sydney Ibeanusi, said that pedestrian safety in Nigeria was not being put into consideration by the road users, as most motorists would not wait for pedestrians at the zebra crossing.

He said: “Road users include all of us. The main factor we have identified is non-obedience to the laid-down laws governing road safety. At times, when pedestrians cross the road, they don’t always know what to do.

“Inasmuch as we don’t have enough infrastructure in the country for road safety, we should use the few available ones we have. Also, the road users attitude is very bad, but we are happy that road safety has been inculcated in the school curriculum.”

The Zonal Commanding Officer, Zone 2, Lagos and Ogun FRSC, Ademola Lawal, said the safety of pedestrians is in the hands of all.

He urged Nigerians to join in the campaign to ensure that the rights of pedestrians were protected.

He said FRSC had been engaging in series of campaigns and advocacy to ensure that pedestrian safety was guaranteed.

Said he: “The challenge we have is the attitude of road users. Most pedestrians don’t know what to do on the road. We want to intensify our public enlightenment in this regard through jingles on the radio and other means.”

Lawal decried motorists’ attitude to zebra crossing, saying that the FRSC had ensured that before anyone obtained the driver’s licence, such a person must go through prescribed driving schools where he would be taught the need to stop at zebra crossing for pedestrians to cross the road.

“This walk is to create awareness that pedestrian safety is key. We need to make walking safe. All of us are pedestrians, it doesn’t matter whether you drive a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) or not. You still walk on the road at times without your SUV and it becomes important that all of us must ensure that pedestrians are safe,” he added.

FROM: Nation

SOURCE: http://thenationonlineng.net/new/news/un-frsc-urge-compliance-with-zebra-crossing/

As FRSC draws up road safety policy for Sierra Leone

enakireru — Wed, 15 May 2013 07:28:15 +0000

That the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) is assisting the Sierra Leonean Government to formulate a road safety policy is a milestone for the corps. President of West African Road Safety Association (WARSA), Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of FRSC, Mr. Osita Chidoka, had stressed the need to extend road safety issues to other West African countries, adding that a three-man team from the corps has returned from the West African country for the capacity building review of its road safety issues as a prelude to the establishment of its road safety concept. The team spent eight days in Sierra Leone.

The agreement reached is in line with the collective drive to promote regional co-operation in sub-Sahara which seeks 50% reduction in road traffic accidents. The FRSC team led by its deputy corps marshal operation, Boboye Oyeyemi, was in Sierra Leone following a request for Nigeria to promote technical assistance for sustainable road safety management in that country. The request was channeled through Sierra Leone Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Nigerian High Commission in Free Town, the Sierra Leonean capital, to Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja.

Chidoka and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Martin Uhomoibli, met on the modalities for actualising the agreement. The corps public education officer, Jonas Agwu, who spoke on the technical concept, said the FRSC team assessed the current road safety situation in that country, studied the policy and operational detail of Sierra Leonean road transport authority, which is the agency statutorily entrusted with road safety management, and drew up a framework towards entrenching a formidable road agency an Sierra Leone. With this development, Chidoka is surely on the path to fulfilling his promise to extend his road safety transformation agenda to other countries as well as meeting United Nations decade of road safety issues in the country.

FROM: Blueprint

SOURCE: http://blueprintng.com/2013/05/as-frsc-draws-up-road-safety-policy-for-sierra-leone/

FRSC begins training for drivers

enakireru — Wed, 15 May 2013 07:25:52 +0000

THE Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC) has commenced a training programme for commercial drivers and community members in Abuja as part of the measures aimed at reducing road mishaps in the capital city.

The training programme, which is anchored by the Global Road Safety Partnership, a World Bank initiative, included training Garki district residents on basic road and signs road demarcations.

Speaking on the training, the FCT Sector Commander, Fanola Kayode emphasised the need for comprehensive road safety training for Abuja residents.

He said: “The road infrastructure in Abuja is still being developed and with all other infrastructure when compared to the population, is still inadequate. The human population is increasing astronomically just as that brings vehicular population. The FRSC found that the number of vehicles entering Abuja is higher than the number that is going out.”

He stated that the influx of people who are in search of greener pastures had exacerbated the traffic situation in Abuja with increase number of accident in its wake.

“We are enlightening bus and taxis driver on safety driving. I can say that the rate of accidents within the city centre has stabilised. We also find that most accidents occur between Friday evening and Sunday morning. This is unconnected to happenings at the weekend when people go to fun spots to have drinks. Most people drive themselves to these spots and by the time they are leaving they are drunk and then crash their car,” he stressed.

Fanola also added that the FRSC was enlightening fun spot owners on the need for them to close at the stipulated time ordered by the FCT administration.

For her part, the National Coordinator of the Nigerian Road Safety Partnership, Mrs. Wabotem Ene, said that the Global Road Safety Partnership was partnering FRSC in Abuja and members of communities to see road safety as part of their civic responsibilities.

Her words: “We have done data collection, survey and questionnaires for schools, road mapping and improvement on the roads. We hope to start working with schools. We have done aptitude test in some schools to know where the gaps are.

“The aim of this training is capacity building for people who are stakeholders in the management and prevention of accidents and other road mishaps. What we are doing is to try and test current stage of knowledge. It is not a one-off thing because we intend to go back and check in not too distant time to know the result of the training.”

FROM: Guardian

SOURCE: http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=121625:frsc-begins-training-for-driversn&catid=29:appointments&Itemid=488

FRSC decries increasing death of pedestrians in Lokoja

enakireru — Tue, 14 May 2013 11:45:46 +0000

As the world marks the United Nation Safety Week, the Kogi State command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has decried the increasing rate of pedestrians death in Lokoja.

Sector Commander of the FRSC, Mr Olakunle Motajo, stated this at the weekend in Lokoja after a walk organized by the FRSC as part of activities marking the second United Nations Safety Week.

According to him, lack of pedestrians overhead bridges at major road intersections in Lokoja is responsible for the high rate of deaths among pedestrians.

He said the increasing rate of pedestrians’ death at intersections on NATACO, Ganaja and Muritala Mohammed/Ibrahim Babangida roads in the city has reached a worrisome level, urging the state government to quickly construct overhead bridges on the identified roads.

The sector commander said the command will introduce effective traffic management to reduce accidents on Okene-Lokoja-Abuja highway by 50 per cent.

FROM: Daily Trust

SOURCE: http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/index.php/news-news/54270-frsc-decries-increasing-death-of-pedestrians-in-lokoja

FRSC Celebrates Pedestrian Safety Week

enakireru — Tue, 14 May 2013 11:43:34 +0000

ABUJA – Mr. Vincent Jack, the Bayelsa FRSC Sector Commander, said on Saturday in Yenagoa that the commission was promoting pedestrian safety, as pedestrians were integral part of road users

He said the commission was promoting the pedestrians’ safety consciousness in line with the 2013 theme of the UN Global Road Safety Week.

The theme of the week is “ Pedestrian Safety”.

The sector commander, told newsmen after a walk/cycling rally that the commission would enlist the support of the Bayelsa House of Assembly in the campaign for pedestrian safety.

According to him, the FRSC is seeking the collaboration of the legislature in Bayelsa so that it could make pedestrian friendly laws.

He also said that the FRSC was promoting the habit of walking and cycling as a means of keeping fit and maintaining healthy lifestyles.

The sector commander said that walking and cycling were effective antidotes to obesity, heart diseases and other life threatening ailments.

Mr Peter Akpe, the Majority Leader of Bayelsa House of Assembly, who participated in the rally, promised that the assembly would provide the legislative support for the campaign.

He said that he would also be walking and cycling to the assembly on selected days to encourage fellow lawmakers to imbibe the practice

Reports say that participants in the rally moved round major areas of Bayelsa, covering five kilometres.
A cycling team from Bayelsa chapter of Cycling Federation of Nigeria participated in the rally.

In a related development, the FRSC has blamed the high pedestrian accident rate in Lokoja to the lack of pedestrian bridges in the town.

Mr Olakunle Motajo, the Kogi FRSC Sector Commander, said the increasing rate of pedestrian deaths at intersections on NATAKO, Ganaja and Murtala Mohammed/Ibrahim Babangida roads in the city had reached alarming level.

Matajo spoke in Lokoja after a walk/ jogging organised by FRSC as part of activities to mark the UN Pedestrian Safety Week.

He said the command would, during the week, shift focus from the highways to pedestrians’ safety.

He expressed delight that no single death had been recorded among pedestrians since the commencement of the UN Safety Week on May 6.

FROM:Observer

SOURCE: http://www.nigerianobservernews.com/13052013/news/Other%20News/othernews11.html

FRSC Holds Certification Programme For Drivers

enakireru — Tue, 14 May 2013 11:40:44 +0000

BENIN CITY – In a renewed drive to improve the capacity of drivers and ensure safety on the nation’s high ways, the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Zone Rs 5, Benin, has held a two-day Drivers Certification Programme for commercial vehicle drivers and fleet operators in Benin City.

The programme was flagged off by the Rs 5 Zonal Commander, Assistant Corps Marshal Wole Olaniran.

Thereafter, the drivers were taken on a training by the Zonal Transport Standardization Officer, Assistant Corps commander Mmenyene Asuquo Bassey.

According to information made available to The NIGERIAN OBSERVER , the drivers were made to under-go driving test, eye test and Blood Pressure (BP) test.

The training also highlighted the imperatives of the 2004 National Road Traffic Regulation which provides that drivers must rest at least eight hours before embarking on any journey, they should stop and exercise themselves after four hours of driving to allow blood to flow while no driver must drive for more than nine hours in any 24 hours period.

The training programme also emphasized the dangers of night driving while further emphasis was made on the need for the proper filling of the passengers manifest with every details in place so as to enable easy identification of victims in case of any road mishap.

Tips were also given on operators safety standard, vehicle and drivers safety standard.

According to the training officer, fleet operators should ensure the convenience of passengers, provide food, ensure transparent safety managers and motivate drives with good incentives.

The drivers, he said must be well trained and knowledgeable in road sign and traffic regulations while the vehicles must be in good order with tyres that had not expired.

In addition, the brake and lighting system must be functional while the driver must be functional while the driver must check the oil and water level before embarking on a journey as well as make use of seat belt at all times.

The participants were certified to have improved on their driving skills and were later presented with certificates.

FROM: Observer

SOURCE: http://www.nigerianobservernews.com/13052013/news/news7.html

FRSC Flags off Operation Shield – Deploys 191 Personnel

enakireru — Thu, 09 May 2013 10:57:35 +0000

As part of renewed determination to mitigate against the prevalent occurrence of road crashes and fatalities along critical corridors of the nation’s highways, the Federal Road Safety Corps has flagged off a nationwide special patrol tagged “Operation Shield”, slated for 6^th – 12^th may, 2013.

According to the FRSC, the all inclusive exercise which coincides with this year’s edition of the United Nations global safety week, will witness massive deployment of 191 personnel, 43 patrol vehicles, 7 ambulances and 4 heavy duty tow trucks is designed to achieve drastic reduction of road crashes which has recently occurred along specific routes of the highways.

Speaking on the deployment, the Corps Public Education Officer, Corps Commander Jonas Agwu said “ FRSC operatives for corridor 1, covering Kaduna-Abuja highway, will be stationed at Kakau Unit Command as operational base while those for corridor 2 (Lagos-Ibadan highway) will operate from Mowe Unit Command”.

In the same vein, he added that Abaji Unit Command will serve as operational base for corridor 3 (Abuja- Lokoja –Zariagi highway) while the Corps’ operatives deployed to corridor 4 (Benin-Asaba highway) will operate from Isele-Uku Unit Command.

Jonas also said that the major focus for the special exercise will be on speed limit violation, use of phone while driving, dangerous driving/overtaking and overtaking in addition to other road vices.

The special patrol is coinciding with the 2^nd edition of the United Nations global safety week with the theme “Pedestrian Safety” which is aimed at drawing attention to the urgent need to better protect pedestrians and generate actions on the measures that will ensure the realization of the goal of the decade of action for road safety (2011-2020) which seeks to achieve 50% reduction in road crashes and fatalities, translating to the saving of 5 million lives across the globe.

Part of the Corps’ plans for the nationwide safety week include robust public enlightenment campaigns, distribution of safety handbills, formal relocation of the office of the Corps Marshal and Chief Executive to the new national headquarters at Wuse Zone 3, advocacy visits to decision/policy makers, corporate partners and relevant stakeholders in road safety, special Juma’at service, cycling/walking rally and special church service.

FROM: FRSC

FRSC relocates to new headquarters, marks UN Road Safety Week

enakireru — Thu, 09 May 2013 10:54:56 +0000

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Wednesday in Abuja relocated its national headquarters from Wuse Zone 7 to the former Ministry of Foreign Affairs Complex in Wuse Zone 3.

The Corps marked the movement with a brief ceremony, which also served to mark the beginning of the second United Nations Road Safety Week.

Osita Chidoka, accompanied by other senior officers, walked from the former Glass House Headquarters in Zone 7 to the new headquarters.

In his address at the new office complex, Chidoka stressed the need for officers and men of the Corps to redouble their efforts toward achieving the organisation’s objectives.

“Much is expected of the Road Safety Corps as officers and men have no excuse not to perform as far as office accommodation is concerned.

“We should all take advantage of the new environment to take the agency to greater heights.

“Our relocation to this place is significant in many ways. It opens a new chapter for the FRSC in Nigeria, and it signifies a new beginning for us. It is a new dawn.

“ I want to urge all of us to take advantage of a new ambience that this office will provide for all of us to improve on our service to the nation, especially in the area of studies to make our roads safer for all Nigerians,’’ he said.

Chidoka said the focus of the 2013 UN Road Safety Week “is on the safety of the pedestrian on roads.

“Roads are not meant for vehicles alone but for other road users too, such as pedestrians and cyclists,’’ he said.

The Corps Marshal said officers and men of the Corps across the federation would lay emphasis on the need to fix signs on roads for the safety of all users.

“Relevant agencies of government and other stakeholders will be reminded of the need to provide road signs on all categories of roads in the country during the week,’’ he said.

FROM: Daily Times

SOURCE: http://www.dailytimes.com.ng/article/frsc-relocates-new-headquarters-marks-un-road-safety-week