AWKA – The FRSC Sector Commander, Anambra, Mr. Adeoye Irelewuyi, has said that roads in Anambra State occupy 15^th position as most dangerous roads in the country.

Mr. Irelewuyi disclosure this at the Flag-off of the 2022 Ember Months Safety Campaign held in Awka.

This year’s campaign is titled, “Speeding, Overloading and Unsafe Tyres to Arrive Alive”.

Irelewuyi said, “The task of road traffic and safety management is a daunting challenge to both the government and the citizens.

“In Nigeria, data from the National Bureau of statistics shows that Anambra roads occupy 15^th position on the list of death trap roads in Nigeria. We should not allow the trend to continue.

“This campaign is, however, apt to cover casualty factors which include speeding, overloading, use of unsafe tyres, drunk driving, non-use of seat belt and so on.

“The Corps is stepping up public enlightenment in motor parks, Churches, Mosque and the media. The Corps has also trained about 1,500 Neighborhood Rescue Team across the state to assist in rescue efforts”.

The sector Commander urged the residents and road users to cooperate with FRSC, especially at this Ember months period to reduce the rate of fatalities on our roads.

He appreciated the Special Marshals for the ongoing construction of the road side clinic project at Nteje, along Awka-Onitsha expressway, saying, it will reduce response time to crashes along the axis.

Also speaking, the Zonal Commanding Officer, Benin Headquarters, Mr. Chukwuma Njoku urged drivers to be focused, concentrate while driving, ensure their vehicles were in good condition and obey traffic laws.

He said that travel rate, overloading speeding and drunk driving are some the characteristics of the Ember month period.

“Speeding is a critical offence in FRSC because it poses serious challenge to other road user. We are setting up 24 hours traffic surveillance on the highways to ensure drivers comply with the maximum speed limit,” Njoku said.

In his Remarks, Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo who was represented by the Commissioner of Transport, Mrs. Patricia Igwebuike, said his administration recognized the situation of the roads and has declared a state of emergency on roads in the state .

Soludo said that about 10,000 kilometers of road project had been flagged off to boost infrastructure development in the state.

He said, “This administration value the lives of residents and decided to commence massive road project.

“The tragedies on our roads are avoidable, so we urge roads users to take responsibility for their lives by obeying all the traffic rules.” (Daily Independent)

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