Shehu Zaki, the Zonal Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, RS2, said on Friday that 537 road traffic crashes were recorded in Ogun State between January and August.
Zaki, who supervises the Lagos and Ogun States Commands of the FRSC, disclosed this in Abeokuta during the 2017 Third Quarter Sectoral Retreat of the Ogun State Sector Command of the corps.
The retreat, tagged: “Building Operative Capacity to Excel against Prevailing Storm,” is aimed at reducing road crashes in the zone.
The zonal commander, RS2, said that 521 road traffic crashes were recorded within the same period in 2016.
Zaki said: “Less than three months to the end of 2017, the safety condition of our highways has not impressed our aspiration as attestable by vital statistics of crashes, crash fatality and severity.
“From January to August, road traffic crash frequency consistently maintains an upward trend that averaged 3.0 per cent at close of August 2017 with a record of 537 road traffic crashes.
“Fatal cases during the same period recorded marginal reduction of 11.94 per cent. Fatality trend was down by 19.23 per cent with total fatality record of 210 in 2017 as against 260 in 2016.”
Zaki expressed concern over what he described as ”the growing unpleasant development that apparently disrupts operational environment”, stressing the need to remodel strategies necessary to realise safer road objectives.
He said: “I commend your efforts, especially given that the country is passing through critical period with explicit negative implications on motorists’ psychology, which bears impacts on enforcement.”
Zaki said it was unacceptable to keep watching the regression on the highways to deadly traps resulting in avoidable mass destruction of lives and property.
He said: “I have critically evaluated the zonal operations in the last three quarters and I have no doubt that the laudable goals are achievable even with the bounds of prevailing circumstances.
“We need strong and insightful leadership, purposefulness, knowledge, enhanced strategic operation and discipline to continue to keep our roads safer.”
Zaki urged the command to exploit all available means especially the social media platforms for public enlightenment.
He urged all motorists to drive cautiously during the “ember months”, saying the FRSC had outlined programmes to guarantee travel devoid of road obstructions during this year’s yuletide.
Speaking on the topic: “Preparation for retirement,” Olayinka Shodunke, Deputy Director, Industrial Training Fund, Abeokuta, advised FRSC officials not to depend on only one source of income.
Shodunke urged them to set priorities for themselves and also endeavour to be entrepreneurs.
In his goodwill message, Alhaji Haruna Adekunjo, the Chairman, National Union of Road Transport Workers, Kuto branch, commended the corps for ensuring safety on the roads.
Adekunjo gave the assurance that the NURTW members in the state would continue to abide by road traffic regulations.
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