By Ibironke Ariyo
The Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Malam Shehu Mohammed, has solicited the support of the Ondo State Government in reducing Road Traffic Crashes (RTCs) in the state.
Mohammed said this when he led a team of FRSC officials on a courtesy visit to the Executive Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa on Monday in Akure, Ondo.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that th visit and was in continuation of the on-going end of year traffic monitoring across strategic corridors by the Corps Marshal and the management team.
He congratulated the Governor for emerging successful at the recently held gubernatorial polls in the State.
He also acquainted the Governor on the on-going FRSC end of year special patrol operations and traffic monitoring that brought him to Ondo State.
The FRSC boss said that road safety was a shared responsibility that required the collaboration of all stakeholders adding that the FRSC was in the state to execute two missions.
“The first being to felicitate with the governor and the people of Ondo State on the successful gubernatorial election.
“The second, being to embark on the Ember Months campaign aimed at reducing road traffic crashes during the festive period.
“I want to use this opportunity to pray that may Allah grant the Governor, the government, and the good people of Ondo State the knowledge, the wisdom, and good health for the Governor to continue to execute the project and move the state forward,” he said.
Mohammed emphasised the importance of road safety, stating that it was a critical issue that required urgent attention.
He, however, maintained that Ondo state was critical to the end of the year special operations due to the number of corridors that existed in the State.
The Corps Marshal revealed that the Corps was outrightly committed to ensuring that crashes were reduced to the barest minimum in line with United Nations Decade of Action on Road Safety and Injury Prevention.
He emphasised on the need for the State Government to expedite actions towards establishing Ondo State Road Safety Advisory Council.
This, he said would be to compliment the efforts of National Road Safety Advisory Council led by the Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Kashim Shettima.
The Corps Marshal appealed to the state government to support the FRSC in its efforts to reduce road traffic crashes, particularly by providing more vehicles and logistics.
“We want to appreciate you because my sector Commander has informed me that he has been receiving support.
” Although, the FRSC didn’t benefit from the vehicles distributed in Ondo for security agencies recently.
“We hope that with this visit and collaboration we seek, his excellency will see reason and consider our request to have more vehicles and be able to use it,” he said.
In his response, the Governor of Ondo state, Lucky Aiyedatiwa said that the Corps Marshal’s visit was encouraging as it would boost security of lives and properties in the state.
Aiyedatiwa who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Ondo state, Dr. Olayide Adelami, thanked the Corps Marshal for the Operation Zero Tolerance and the traffic monitoring of federal highways commenced by the Corps.
He commended the Corps Marshal for his efforts in reducing road crashes and assured him that the state government would work closely with the FRSC to address the challenges of road safety in the state.
Aiyedatiwa further pledged the readiness of the State Government to always support the Corps to actualise its mandate.
