FRSC CORPS MARSHALL, OSITA CHIDOKA

Roads: Lack of funding threat to safety.

The Corp Marshall of the Federal Road Safety Commission, Osita Chidoka says road users' safety is threatened by a lack of funds for road maintenance in Nigeria.
Chidoka who stated this said the total budgetary appropriation for road infrastructure in Nigeria from 2000-2010 was N15.2 trillion out of which only N1.14 trillion was received.
He described the investment as ``disproportionate spending’’ when compared to countries like Brazil, Germany and Sweden.
Chidoka said a study conducted by his organisation on road crashes involving articulated vehicles showed that 4,017 truck crashes were recorded from 2007-June 2010.
According him, despite the hazards, roads remained the dominant means of transportation in Nigeria ahead of rail and air, with over 90 per cent of commuters using roads as their means of transportation.
Chidoka, has identified inadequate funding, weak institutional framework and poor driver training as some of the challenges facing safe road transportation.
He also identified rising motorisation fuelled by import of used vehicles as challenges facing the sector in developing economies.
The Corps Marshall welcomed a World Bank initiative, announced on Tuesday, which encourages donors to invest in road safety in developing countries.
Meanwhile, a statement from the World Bank explained that seven multilateral development banks had come up with the joint initiative.

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Easter/Elections: FRSC plans week-long patrol.

The Federal Road Safety Commission says its special nationwide week-long patrol during the Easter celebration will focus on effective traffic management to reduce road accidents.
The exercise became necessary as the period coincided with the governorship elections, slated for Tuesday next week.
It’s Public Education Officer, Nseobong Akpabio, said the Commission's operatives and equipment would be massively deployed to ten designated routes nationwide throughout the period.
Akpabio said the commission would use the exercise to enlighten motorists on the dangers of violating traffic rules as part of its renewed determination to achieve safer road use during the period.
He listed the routes as Giri-Gwagwalada-Yangoji, Akure-Owo, Gombe-Bauchi, Lokoja-Okene, Abuja-Kaduna, Onitsha-Awka-9th Mile-Obollo Afor, Oken, Lafia-Akwanga, Egbeda-Ife, Aba-Port Harcourt and Mokwa-Jebba.