Just In : FRSC unveils campaign to reduce road crashes
The Federal Road Safety Corps has initiated an awareness campaign aimed at reducing road traffic accidents caused by trailers transporting passengers and the movement of petroleum products in commercial buses.
This was contained in a statement signed by the corps spokesperson, Jonas Agwu, on Thursday.
The awareness came on the heels of recent tragedies involving trailers and buses resulting in fatal fires, such as the devastating incidents on April 28, 2024, along the Okene-Lokoja highway in Kogi State, and on April 30, 2024, in Enugu State where numerous lives were lost
Under the direction of Corps Marshal Dauda Biu, commanding officers were instructed to conduct public campaigns at trailer parks, loading bays, and transit camps nationwide.
These efforts include engaging with drivers, transport union leaders, vehicle owners, and various community stakeholders to emphasize responsible driving practices, discourage overloading, discourage the use of trailers for passenger transport, and prevent the transportation of petroleum products in buses.
“The advocacy campaigns entail meeting the drivers, the leadership of transport unions, owners of articulated vehicles, visiting bus terminals, engaging opinion leaders, youths, market men and women, traditional rulers, and religious leaders as well.
“The essence is to appeal to the conscience of drivers against recklessness on the roads, overloading, the use of trailers to convey passengers, and of course, carrying kegs of petroleum products in buses,” Agwu noted.
The advocacy campaigns are currently underway in Kano, Kaduna, and Bauchi states, where these traffic issues are particularly prevalent, and will extend to other states like Taraba, Imo, Enugu, Rivers, Benue, Borno, and Katsina.
He said, “The sensitisation/stakeholders engagement campaign is already in top gear in Kano, Kaduna, and Bauchi States where those traffic vices and resultant crashes are more prevalent.
“Expectedly, other states of Taraba, Imo, Enugu, Rivers, Benue, Borno, Katsina, and the rest are also engaging the stakeholders on all fronts.”
Additionally, to prevent fire outbreaks in the event of an accident, FRSC patrol operatives are instructed to be vigilant and conduct checks on commercial buses to ensure they are not carrying inflammable substances like petroleum products.
