By Thompson Yamput
Gov. Ahmed Ododo of Kogi on Friday urged the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to ensure free-flowing traffic and to reduce accidents during the Yuletide season through increased public awareness.
Ododo made the call during a town hall meeting organised by the FRSC sector command in Kogi as part of its Ember Months advocacy held aatthe Felele Motor Park, Lokoja.
The governor, who was represented by the State Security Adviser, Retired Commodore Jerry Omodara, said the Corps should ensure the deployment of its personnel to all flash points areas for effective patrol.
He said Kogi, which has borders with 10 states is a gateway to the both southern and northern states and should not suffer any gridlock so not put travellers on unnecessary hardship.
“At yuletide the traffic is always huge and we must ensure effective control.
“This administration will collaborate with you, FRSC, Federal Ministry of Works and FERMA toward ensuring that all noticeable potholes along our roads are filled up for free flow of ttraffic especially during the forthcoming yuletide.
“Your deployment of personnel to all flash points areas especially Zariagi or Obajana Junction where the road is under construction
“What we don’t want is seeing travellers spending several hours or sleeping on the roads because of traffic jam or accident, ” he said.
Ododo commended the state’s new FRSC Sector Commander, Tenimu Etuku, for his pragmatic actions at ensuring safety on the roads in Kogi.
Earlier , Etuku said that the essence of the town hall meeting was to sensitize all stakeholders on corps’ drive for safety on the highways during the Ember months.
The sector commander urged motorists to always keep to traffic rules and regulations to avoid road traffic crashes and untimely deaths on the highways.
Etuku listed speeding, drunkenness, wrong over taking, overloading, use of phones while driving and violation of traffic rules as causes of road traffic crashes on the roads.
He said that there would be massive deployment of personnel to all flash points in the state to ensure safety and well-being of both motorists and commuters on the roads.
In his remarks, the state chairman of NURTW, Danladi Aliyu, represented by the Assistant Secretary, Austin Omeiza, pledged to continue the enlightenment campaign of safety and adherence to traffic rules to their members. NAN
