The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Akwa Ibom Sector Command has deployed 519 personnel across the state to ensure safety on the roads during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
In a related development, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) says it has deployed 1, 200 personnel to ensure adequate protection of government’s critical infrastructures in Akwa Ibom during this period of festivities.
The Akwa Ibom Sector Commander, FRSC, Mr. Matthew Olonisaye, disclosed the deployment of the Corps in a statement issued in Uyo and made available to newsmen on Thursday.
Olonisaye said 305 regular marshals and 214 special marshals have been deployed across the 31 Local Government Areas to ensure zero road crash during the period.
The sector commander warned drivers and all road users to celebrate with caution and avoid speeding, adding that it is only when one is alive that he/she would have the privilege to celebrate.
He said that the command has mounted aggressive public enlightenment campaigns at all motor parks and garages to urge drivers to adhere to road safety rules and regulations.
He said that safety awareness campaigns have also been mounted at Churches, Mosque, Markets, Schools, and road shows to sensitise the general public on the need to ensure safety while using the roads.
“We wish to alert the motoring public on the perceived road hazards associated with the yuletide periods characterised by increased vehicular movement and human traffic, as individuals travel for one event or another both within and outside the state.
“The Command hereby warns all road users to desist from any act capable of exposing them to traffic risks during this period. All are enjoined to obey traffic rules and regulations to avoid the occurrence of Road Traffic Crashes.
“A total of 519 personnel of Akwa Ibom State Sector Command have been deployed at different routes to ensure free flow of traffic, clearing of obstructions and full enforcement on traffic infractions within the period.
“Critical offences such as over speeding, dangerous driving, overloading, route violation, lane indiscipline, use of phone while driving, drunk driving will not be tolerated,” Olonisaye said.
The sector commander said the Corps would make use of breathalyzers to detect drunk driving for appropriate penalties.
He appealed to drivers to ensure that they keep their vehicles in road worthy conditions, use good quality tyres, avoid overloading, night trips, use of alcohol and excessive speed, stressing that speed kills.
“Road users should understand that celebration is tied to life. It is only when one is alive that he can have the privilege to celebrate,” he said.
The sector commander appealed to drivers and all road users to ensure total obedience to rules and regulations while using the roads, adding that Mobile Courts would be put in place to ensure strict compliance.
Meanwhile, the Akwa Ibom State Commandant of NSCDC, Mr. Abidemi Majekodunmi, disclosed the deployments of his command for the yuletide season in a statement issued in Uyo and made available to newsmen on Thursday.
Majekodunmi said that the yuletide always comes with influx of visitors into the state and the agency had planned ahead of time to ensure peace and security.
He said that strategic locations like the Tropicana complex, playgrounds, recreational centres, Christmas village, Ibom plaza, major worship centres would be patrolled to forestall perpetration of criminal acts.
“To ensure a hitch free Christmas and new year celebrations, the Akwa Ibom State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has deployed 1, 200 personnel of the corps to strategic locations across the 31 Local Government Areas of the state.” The deployment is necessary to ensure that the 2021 Christmas and new year celebration is peaceful and devoid of hostilities. As such, major highways as well as all entry and exit points to Akwa Ibom State will be fully patrolled.
‘We have deployed our counter terrorism unit and Agro Rangers to the field to complement other armed tactical units. We also have a standby Rapid Response Squad to respond to emergency calls,” Majekodunmi said.
The Commandant enjoined Akwa Ibom residents to remain vigilant all through the celebration and beyond and promptly report any form of infraction and breach of peace to the nearest security agency.
He warned vandals to steer clear of critical national assets like oil pipelines, power installations, transformers and cables as those caught will end the year behind bars.
He reminded private security guards in the state of their role in the security architecture, to furnish relevant security agencies of information within their areas of operation for prompt action.
The commandant also extended Christmas felicitations to all Christians and enjoined them to embrace peace and tolerate one another.
