Kogi State government has charged transport unions and other critical stakeholders to join hands with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the State Traffic Management Agency to ensure adherence to road traffic regulations to reduce road traffic crashes in the state.
Governor Yahaya Bello gave the charge yesterday at the Lokoja Mega Park LMT, during the flag-off of Ember month campaign organised by the state command of FRSC.
According to him, the theme of the 2022 campaign “Avoid Speeding, Overloading and Unsafe Tyres to Arrive Alive” is a wakeup call to commuters, private and commercial vehicle drivers, as well as motorcycle and tricycle operators to focus on the elimination of causes of road traffic crashes.
Governor Bello who was represented by the secretary to the state government, Dr Fokashade Ayoade Arike said efforts should be geared towards the mitigation of any traffic menace that poses threat to lives.
He said his administration would continue to focus on the development of road infrastructure in order to enhance safety and free movement of traffic within the state, noting that Kogi roads are strategic to the nation.
“We are all witnesses to the construction of the flyover at Ganaja Junction which eased up completely the traffic gridlocks that used to be experienced by motorists at the Junction. This has further improved traffic flow and eliminated losses that would have accrued from delays. In a like manner, rehabilitation work on the township roads in Lokoja are on, with some areas either completed or nearly completed.
“I want to assure you that my government will continue with the development of such road infrastructure and also support the FRSC Kogi Sector Command towards ensuring that the good citizens of Kogi and indeed all Nigerians who travel through Kogi State do so devoid of road traffic challenges,” he assured.
Earlier, the Kogi State sector commander FRSC Dawulung Stephen lamented that 85 per cent of traffic crashes recorded between January 2022 to date are speed related and called on drivers to always drive within the stipulated speed limit to avoid unnecessary road mishaps.
