From Teryima Ajijah, Jos
Plateau State Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps has said it intends to curtail road crashes by 15 percent within the end of 2022.
State Sector Commander, Alphonsus Godwin made the pledge Thursday in Jos, during the official flag-off of Ember months campaigns against road accidents, as a means of cautioning motorists to obey traffic rules.
“The number one goal for this year 2022 Ember months campaign is to accomplish a 15 percent reduction in road traffic crashes deaths,” he stated.
Commander Godwin warned drivers against overloading, over speeding, wrong overtaking, exceeding speed limit, driving under influence of substances and driving against traffic.
Addressing the gathering, Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, represented by the Commissioner of Transport, Mohammed Abubakar, commended efforts by the FRSC in minimizing road crashes in the state.
He charged FRSC and their counterparts to ensure that all vehicles plying every route are road worthy.
Governor Lalong revealed that plans are under-way by his administration to totally alternate every section for vehicle registration, and issuance of drivers licenses to only qualified drivers approved by relevant authorities.
Speaking, Manager of Malgam Motor Park, Jos (also known as NTA Motor Park) where the event took place, Alhaji Maikudi Ibrahim lamented the deplorable state of roads in Nigeria, which drivers are faced with.
According to the him, drivers plying Jos-Kaduna road through Ganawuri, Manchok route have contributed huge amount in fixing a portion of the road at the boundary between Plateau and Kaduna states severally, but the challenge still persists.
Alhaji Ibrahim explained that the said road has damaged several of his colleagues vehicles, without any compensation. He called on the federal and state governments of both Kaduna and Plateau states to rehabilitate the road immediately.
According to him, when fixed, the bad portion of the road, shall prevent further accidents and damages of vehicles.
He pleaded for tax holidays on taxes by government agencies for his members, due to economic hardship.
Drivers driving vehicles with worn-out tyres were advised not to drive this session, as they will be arrested and prosecuted accordingly.
There were medical experts at the event acertainining sight status of drivers, as a means of ensuring clear vision by drivers while driving.
