CHIDOKA TAKES ROAD SAFETY CAMPAIGN TO THE GRASSROOTS

The Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Osita Chidoka in continuation of his all round campaign against the menace of road traffic crashes in the country recently took the campaign to FRSC Commands under Zone 10 comprising of Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States. The campaign tour which was in pursuit of the Commission’s new ethics of “safer roads, fuller lives” lasted for the three days. It took off on Wednesday, 4 March 2009, starting from Argungu Unit Command in Kebbi State, which was set up in response to traffic challenges normally experienced in the area during the annual Argungu fishing festival.

At the Birnin Kebbi office of FRSC, where all the heads of Military and Para-military services in the State; the NURTW Executives; NEPEP Operators and other road safety stakeholders lined up to welcome the Corps Marshal, the scene was reminiscent of a heroic welcome to a visiting loving father to his children, as the people excitedly shook hands, waived and listened attentively to the number one Road Marshal of the country when he addressed them.

The Army Commander, Lt. Col SJ Balarabe and Commissioner of Police in charge of Kebbi State, Mutari Ibrahim, who spoke on behalf of other Military and Para-military personnel in the State during the reception at the sector command, were unanimous in expressing their happiness for the Corps Marshal’s visit to the state. They assured him of harmonious working relationship existing among military and Paramilitary agencies including FRSC in the state as evidenced in their turn out to welcome him and their collective efforts at enforcing all national laws, including that on crash helmet initiated by the Commission.

In his parade address to the officers and men of Kebbi State Sector Command, the Corps Marshal spoke on the new vision of the Commission under his leadership and enjoined them to be dedicated to their duties, promising that staff welfare will continue to be given priority. He warned however, that indiscipline and corruption would remain intolerable offences under the current dispensation.

After the reception and address at the Birnin Kebbi sector command, his next point of call was at the Government House Birnin Kebbi, where he was received by the Governor of the State, Alhaji Sa’adu Nasamu Usman Dakingari, who delegated his Deputy, Alhaji Ibrahim Aliyu to receive him on his behalf as he was away from the state capital at the time.

The Corps Marshal in his address at the Government House, informed the Deputy Governor that he was in the State in continuation of his tour of States under Zone 10 to acquaint himself with the traffic situations of the area and particularly, to see the challenges of his staff and how to collaborate with the State Government to deal with such challenges. He stressed further on the need for all motorists and motorcyclists in the state to obey traffic rules and regulations in order to avert the increasing fatality rate of road traffic crashes resulting from motorcycle accidents. He declared that it was this reality that made the enforcement of law on compulsory use of crash helmet by FRSC from January 1 st January, 2009 most imperative.

The Deputy Governor in response assured FRSC of the support of the State Government in carrying out its road safety campaigns. He stressed the need for sustained public enlightenment programmes by the Commission to make people realize the importance of using crash helmet while riding motorcycles. As part of the Commission’s public enlightenment programme, the Deputy Governor was presented with some copies of the 2008 Revised Highway Code.

At the Abdullahi Fodio Palace, the Corps Marshal was received by the Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Mohammed Ilyasu Bashar, who expressed his royal support to the Commission’s road safety campaigns against overloading and use of crash helmet by motorcyclists and their passengers. He spoke extensively on issues of discipline in the society and the need by people to obey laws. The Emir was emphatic that in any society where people disobey law with impunity, the result is always anarchy. He therefore called on FRSC not to relent in its efforts to ensuring that people are enlightened to obey traffic rules and regulations. In his words, “we urge you to continue to do all that you are now doing. We will do all we can to tell our people why they should wear the helmet whenever they are riding on motorcycle”.

In line with Special Marshals’ guidelines, the Corps Marshal decorated the Emir as the Honorary Patron of Special Marshals in the State, thereby making him one of the Road Safety Ambassadors in Kebbi State.

On the second day of the visit, the Corps Marshal was at the Sokoto State Sector Command of FRSC, where he was received at the Quarter Guard mounted by the command. He later met with the heads of security agencies, NURTW Executives and Special Marshals after addressing the parade formed by the officers and men of the Command. His message at the parade was centred on the ongoing reformation of the Commission, staff capacity building; welfare; indiscipline and corruption which he warned strongly against, stressing that whoever violates the discipline codes of the commission would face maximum punishment.

From the sector command, the Corps Marshal and his entourage proceeded to Usman Danfodio University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), where he was received by the Acting Chief Medical Director, Dr. Simon Isezua, who took him round the wards, trauma and neurosurgical centres and some facilities at the hospital. Impressed with the standards of facilities and commitment of staff of the Teaching Hospital, the Corps Marshal disclosed that the Commission will partner with the trauma centre of the institution to deal with cases of trauma that result from road traffic crashes.

The next point of call of the Corps Marshal was Government House Sokoto, where he was received by the State Governor, Alhaji Aliyu Magatarkada Wamako, his Deputy, Alhaji Mukhtari Shehu Shagari and full complement of the State Executive Council. The message of road safety topped his discussion with the Governor as the need for motorists and motorcycle operators to avoid overloading and always adorn crash helmets whenever ridding on motorcycle was restated.

Even as the Governor agreed with the commission’s campaigns on crash helmet and promised to support it, he advised that to avoid a situation where some people would hide under the cultural or religious norms to disobey the laws, the Commission should continue to complement enforcement with public enlightenment. According to him, with time, people will come to realize the safety benefits of using crash helmets while on motor bikes.

To make the Governor a Road Safety Ambassador in the state and in line with the Special Marshals’ guidelines, he was decorated as the Patron of Special Marshals in the State. In accepting the role, he promised to sustain his support and cooperation with the Commission in its efforts to making the Nigerian roads safe for all.

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar 111, who was the last personality in the state to be visited during the tour, displayed his love and support for the commission when he received the Corps Marshal on Friday, 6 th March. According to an inside source in the Palace, Friday is never used for receiving visitors by the Sultan. But this practice was however waived for the Corps Marshal in demonstration of the Sultan’s genuine concern for the Commission and safety of people on the road.

The amiable Sultan, whom many described as “an epitome of humility”, displayed the exceptional qualities of the Caliphs that governed the Muslim world after prophet Muhammad (SAW). He was simple, friendly and unassuming, despite the enormous powers that he wields.

After been briefed by the Corps Marshal on the accident situations of the country especially in Sokoto state and the efforts his management is making to deal with the challenges, the Sultan gave commendation to the leadership for its untiring efforts at making the Nigerian roads safe for users.

On the issue of overloading and use of crash helmet by motorcycle operators, the leader of the Nigerian Muslims gave unreserved support to the campaign and in fact recommended that convoy drivers especially, should be given regular trainings to adequately prepare them for their tasking work. He stressed further on the need for leadership to always show good examples to their followers so that the society could be stable and peaceful, as he enjoined the elites in the society to obey traffic rules and regulations.

While commending the Corps Marshal for his commitment and dedication to duty as exhibited since his assumption of office, the Sultan assured him of his unflinching support. He said “I want to thank you for all that you have been doing since your appointment. We have seen a lot of changes; and we believe that it is only through such changes that the society can move forward. I assure you that we will support you to achieve your objectives of road safety for the country”. In furtherance of the campaign, the Sultan was later decorated as the Honorary Patron of Special Marshals in Sokoto State, making him a Road Safety Ambassador in the State.

Even as Zamfara State forms an integral part of Zone 10 of FRSC Commands, the Corps Marshal could not visit it due to what the Zonal Commanding Officer of the Zone; Yakubu Attah termed “unforeseen circumstances”. He however appealed that the Corps Marshal repeats his visit to the Zone enable him complete the remaining part of the tour. He stated: “you were yet to meet with the substantive Governor of Kebbi State and could not visit Zamfara State to see the Governor and the Command there due to unforeseen circumstances. We therefore appeal that you kindly repeat your visit to the zone to complete these visits”.

What was evident during the Corps Marshal’s tour of the Sultanate Zone was that, there is national consensus on the need by people to obey nationally made laws, including that on road traffic. From our interactions with the average indigenes of the areas visited, the commitment of the Governors and traditional rulers and the atmosphere of cordiality that was prevalent in the places, it was evident that road safety issues have now assumed national consciousness. And no matter the cultural or religious diversities of the people of Nigeria, what is now clear is that every Nigerian is a stakeholder in the campaign for road traffic safety in the country.

Therefore, as we enter the critical stage of the Commission’s campaign for change of attitude towards road safety in Nigeria, it has become imperative that we all standard up to be counted among the critical mass, initiating the change in our own small way for the success of safer roads, fuller lives campaign that FRSC has initiated.