President Muhammadu Buhari has commended the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC for the commitment it has shown to road safety campaigns, saying his administration will remain committed to supporting it to achieve optimal performance. The President stated this on Monday while commissioning the 283 operational vehicles procured for FRSC by the Federal Government to boost its operational activities. The vehicles comprised Peugeot, Nissan, and Innoson brands,all supplied by motor companies that have assembly plants in the country. The President, who was represented at the occasion by the Minister of Interior, Lt General Abdulrahman Dambazzau (rtd), stated that the establishment of the FRSC 28 years ago was a demonstration of government’s concerns for the safety and security of road users. He noted that in sustaining government’s goodwill for the success of road safety campaigns in the country, the administration has remained unrelenting in its commitment to provision of road infrastructure and development of capacity of staff of the FRSC including provision of facilities that could enhance effective management of traffic on the nation’s highways. According to him, the vehicles would boost the operational capability of FRSC and enhance the capacity of the personnel to face the challenges of enforcing traffic rules and regulations on the highway. “This administration is committed to the ideals of road safety and will continue to demonstrate its support for the FRSC in its commitment to ensuring safety of lives on the nation’s roads,” he stated. He noted that government was aware of the various policies and programmes being put in place by the FRSC to manage the nation’s highways, giving examples of such policies as Road Transport Safety Standardisation Scheme, RTSSS; reforms in the licensing system of the country and other operational mechanisms being put in place to address the menace of road traffic crashes in the country. Road traffic crashes According to him, in line with government’s commitment to the success of the United Nations Decade of Action For Road Safety: 2011-2020, Nigeria in 2010, became a signatory to the Vienna and Geneva Conventions on Road Markings and Signage, after over 40 and 60 years without the nation’s endorsement. Also speaking at the occasion, the Corps Marshal and Chief Executive Officer of FRSC, Boboye Oyeyemi, described the launch as a milestone in the history of the organisation. “For the first time ever, the Federal Government has injected 283 vehicles into the fleet of the Federal Road Safety Corps for use in its operations,” he stated. Oyeyemi said it was another milestone in the annals of the FRSC that symbolised “the sustained intent of the Federal Government to raise the bar on road safety management and collective dedication to the task of exploring innovative and resourceful ways of funding the road safety intervention in the road sector.” The commissioning of 283 operational vehicles, he said, should remind everyone of the capital intensive nature of road safety business. “It is a thing of great joy that FRSC has, by the injection of this state of the art operational vehicles, been retooled for improved performance. It is on record that road safety has been at the heart of this administration. This passion was visibly exhibited when Mr. President, upon assumption of office as President and Commander – in – Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, approved the introduction of the use of speed limiting devices in the country,” he said. Mr. President, while giving the approval, considering stakeholder’s interest, had in his magnanimity extended the period for the commencement of enforcement of motorist’s compliance from the initial date proposed by the FRSC and the Transport Unions.”
SOURCE: Vanguard news