NIGER STATE GOVERNMENT IMPORTS 53,000 SAFETY HELMETS

In fulfillment of its resolve to complement efforts of the Federal Road Safety Corps to ensure full compliance among motorcycle operators in Niger state on the use of safety helmet, the Niger state government has imported about 53,000 pieces of safety helmet for distribution among motorcycle operators in the state at a subsidized rate.

Speaking , the FRSC Unit Commander in Suleja, Assistant Corps Commander Mohammed Hafeez stated that the state government intervention was justified by the low level of compliance with the 1 st January,2009 ultimatum by motorcycle operators in the state on compulsory use of safety helmet,which was extended to the month of May this year to ensure availability of the safety device.

He further disclosed that part of the modalities is the importation of 53,000 pieces of helmets through the collaboration of Niger state government and Local government Chairmen for onward distribution among motorcyclists the Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association(ACOMORAN) at a subsidized rate of N500.00 in addition to reflective jackets.

The Unit Commander added that with the recent development, Niger state has witnessed improved compliance level among motorcycle operators on the use of safety helmet.

In a related development, two mobile courts sitting along Enugu-Port Harcourt and Enugu-Nsukka highways, has convicted 140 drivers for various traffic related offences bordering on the Passenger Manifest violation and dangerous driving.

At the Enugu-Port Harcourt road, the Chief Magistrate, Sunday Chukwuani sentenced 39 drivers to imprisonment terms between one month to two years or option of fines from N1,000.00 to N4,000.00.00.

Similarly, Chief Magistrate Sylvester Eze convicted 101 erring motorists along the Enugu- Nsukka road who were awarded prison terms ranging between one month to two years with an option of fine.

Speaking at the occasion, the FRSC Corps Transport Standardization Officer, Dr Kayode Olagunju implored drivers and fleet operators to adhere strictly with directives on the use of Passenger Manifest stressing that the need for passengers to supply their names and contact addresses on the Manifest,is to ensure easy identification of road crash victims in case of road traffic accidents.

He reiterated the need for fleet operators to ensure the road worthiness of their vehicles and recruitment of competent drivers who should undergo constant training in order to conform with safety standards which is the hallmark of the Road Transport Safety Standardization Scheme.

In his remarks, the FRSC Enugu State Sector Commander, Corps Commander Hyginus Fuomsuk warned drivers on the consequences of over loading, use of worn out tyres and speed violation adding that his Command will utilize the mobile courts as means of achieving prompt dispatch of road traffic related cases to serve as deterrent to the motoring public.

The special operation in Enugu was part of a nationwide build up and sensitization towards eliciting public compliance with the full enforcement of the Road Transport Safety Standardization Scheme slated to commence on 1 st January,2010.