By Florence Ugbem
Benue State Government Thursday inaugurated its Road Safety Advisory Council under the Chairmanship of Deputy Governor, Engr Benson Abounu.
Performing the ceremony at the Benue Peoples House, Makurdi, Engr Abounu expressed delight over the formation of the council which he stated was formed to address loopholes of the road safety sector, in order to minimise death and serious injuries from road accidents.
He enumerated responsibilities of the council on partnership with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) which include setting up neighbourhood traffic safety strategy at local areas, standing mobile court for defaulters, establishing rest areas along highways, conducting quarterly joint road safety focused enforcement programmes and quarterly enlightenment campaigns, among others.
The deputy governor charged members, especially the technical working group to brace up to the task ahead, in ensuring the mission of National Road Safety Strategy (NRSS) is achieved by creating a safer monitoring environment in the country. He also enjoined them to report findings in the state to the national level for implementation and necessary action.
In his opening remark, Sector Commander, FRSC, Mr Yakubu Mohammed, explained that the State Action Committee which was formed to implement policies of NRSS from 2021 to 2030 was a follow-up to the first Road Safety Strategy that was initiated from 2014 to 2018 to reduce road traffic crash by 50 percent.
He further disclosed that road traffic accidents is one of the major causes of death, stating that the State Action Committee was formed to ensure that road crashes in Nigeria does not result to loss of lives.
Responding on behalf of members of the council, Commissioner for Works and Transport, Engr Alexander Shaapera, thanked the state government for finding them worthy, with a pledge to do their best in ensuring the council sets pace for other states to follow, while they live up to their responsibilities.
Members of the council include Commissioners for Works and Transport; Information Culture and Tourism; Health; Justice; Education; Finance; Environment; and State Planning.
Others are Representatives of Nigeria Society of Engineers; Medical Association; Nigerian Bar Association; National Orientation Agency; and FRSC Sector Commander as Secretary.