By Ikechukwu Iweajunwa
Owerri, Oct. 7, 2021
The RS9.43 Njaba Unit Command of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) on Thursday flagged-off the “Ember-Month” safety campaign at Ogbaku park in Imo with a call to end night journeys in the country.
Speaking on the theme “Maintain Safety Speed, Avoid Night Journey and Enjoy Quality Road Experience,” the unit Commander, Assistant Corp Commander (ACC) John Mbikpo said Nigerians must end the culture of night journeys.
He said FRSC has observed with dismay that vehicles that are not road worthy are put on the highways during the yuletide, while inexperienced drivers compel themselves to embark on long distance journeys.
He said to stem the ugly trend, FRSC embarked on elaborate public enlightenment campaigns to further sensitize the public on road safety ideas.
“FRSC has long campaigned against night journey but regrettably, members of the public still engage in this act.
“Night journey has many disadvantages, which includes security threat, poor visibility, while help is usually very slow during emergency.
Mbikpo said route violation was the greatest challenge within the unit command, adding that route violators are human traitors.
He said the Command would jointly set-up a formidable task force in collaboration with members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the traditional institution to check traffic abuse in the area.
The FRSC Sector Commander Joshua Adekanye called for attitudinal change in driving culture in Imo.
Adekanye, represented by Assistant Corp Commander Charles Ani, listed human factor, environmental factor as well as vehicles that are not road worthy as major causes of road crashes in the country.
He assured that FRSC would brace up its activities during and after the yuletide, but warned against abuse of road traffic regulations.
The Traditional Ruler of Ogbaku community, Benjamin Onyewu said the greatest traffic challenge within the Onitsha Ogbaku express was route violation.
He commended FRSC for proposing to inaugurate a task force to check the ugly trend.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Nigerian Police Force, Nigerian Customs as well as NURTW were represented at the event.