By; OLADELE ADEDAYO, Ado-Ekiti
The Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi, has appealed to the leaders of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) and National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) to warn their members against drunkenness and reckless driving while driving.
Egbeyemi made the appeal on Tuesday while declaring the flagging off ‘Ember Month Safety Campaign’ in Ado-Ekiti,Ekiti State capital.
“Our drivers must stay away from alcohol and Indian hemp to reduce fatalities. Hard drugs intake will automatically bring overspending, reckless overtaking and killing of innocent souls and we have to desist from it”, he said.
“I want the police to patrol motor parks and ensure they don’t sell alcohol and hard drugs there. FRSC too must continue to monitor the activities of these drivers on the roads.
“Banning of alcohol was effected in Lagos State at a time. Our drivers must not endanger people’s lives while driving. They must abide by all traffic laws, because our roads are guided by laws to ensure orderliness”.
On blockage of roads by faulty heavy duty vehicles,thereby causing gridlocks , Egbeyemi urged the federal government to give each state one towing vehicles to remove such vehicles for free flow of traffic.
While the Federal Road Safety Corps(FRSC) Zonal Commander and Assistant Corp Marshal, Mr. Uche Omeje, revealed that Ekiti state recorded a total of 102 road traffic cases in the last nine months, with 41 losing their lives untimely.
Omeje disclosed further that a cummulative number of 292 commuters were injured in the crashes out of 693 persons that were involved in the accidents.
The FRSC boss, who is in charge of Ekiti, Kwara and Kogi States Zone,stated this at the event.
Omeje, who hinged the incessant accidents on roads to recklessness and overspeeding on the parts of motorists, said bad roads and general insecurity pummeling the nation, were also contributing to increasing carnages on the roads.
Omeje said: “We have recorded a total of 102 road traffic cases in 2021, with 41 losing their lives while a total of 292 were injured out of 693 victims that were involved.
“Our men would continue to work hard to ensure that we reduce accidents, particularly during these ember months when accidents are common due to anxiety about the coming yuletide and other pressing issues.
“We remember the good old days when we used to have good roads and without insecurity. Night travels were high then and there was better safety of lives and our vehicles.
“On Nigerian roads, you have to drive for yourself and another motor coming in front and behind you. Even when you are catious of your actions, these people might not be as careful as you are.
“We have to start being defensive in our driving. Using phones while driving is very common among the elite and youth, they are also part of the problems, so the Okada riders are not the only people causing crashes and deaths on our roads”.
The FRSC State Sector Commander, Mrs. Eizabeth Akinlade, said the FRSC would partner religious and community leaders as well as other stakeholders to reduce autocrashes during yuletide.
