Former Military President, Ibrahim Babangida, on Monday urged the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to brace up for the “enormous challenges’’ ahead in the management of traffic on the nation’s highways.
Speaking at an event to mark the 30th anniversary of the Corps in Abuja, Babangida noted that increasing population would place additional burden on the Corps.
According to the FRSC, the road transport sector accounts for 90 per cent of movement of passengers and goods across the country.
With this comes a huge burden for traffic management agencies led by the FRSC, says Mr Bisi Kazeem, the Corps Public Education Officer.
Babangida, who was represented by Malam Murtala Aliyu, a former Minister of Power and Steel, however, expressed confidence in the ability of the Corps to surmount the challenges, citing its remarkable achievements over the years.
The President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, represented by Sen. Tijani Kaura (APC Zamfara North), congratulated the FRSC for its achievements in the last 30 years.
Saraki said with expansion in its territorial coverage, increase in staff strength and advancement in technology, the FRSC had become a pacesetter among other agencies of government.
While also reminding the Corps of the challenges ahead, the Senate president assured it of the continued support of the National Assembly.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Malam Mohammed Bello, represented by an official in the ministry, Mr Christian Oha, said the FCT had benefited immensely from several initiatives of the FRSC.
Bello stated that the operations and activities of the Corps had impacted positively on the driving culture of residents of the territory.
The minister noted that a lot needed to be done by the agency to check speeding and other rampant forms of disobedience to traffic rules and regulations in the area.
He said the FCT Administration would sustain its partnership with the agency to address emerging traffic management challenges in the territory.
Chairman of the occasion and former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr Yayale Ahmed, said the FRSC had become a highly respected institution due to its commitment to its mandate.
“We should all commend the management of the FRSC for a job well done, but in doing that, we should remind ourselves that keeping the roads safer is the responsibility of all,’’ Ahmed said.
The Chief Host and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to empower the Corps for effective and efficient discharge of its mandate.
Mustapha, whose office supervises the FRSC, called on all stakeholders to keep supporting the agency in the ongoing campaign to make the nation’s roads safer.
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