By MOHAMMED TIJJANI

The inter-agency task force set up by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to apprehend overloaded trailers has begun work on Saturday along Kaduna-Abuja expressway.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the task force was inaugurated by the Corps Marshal, Mr Dauda Biu at Kakau Toll Gate, Kaduna.

The corps marshal, represented by ACM Zubair Mato, the FRSC Head of Federal Operations, said the move was essential because of recent pathetic developments around major corridors of Nigeria’s highways.

He said the task force would ensure compliance to all traffic regulations by stakeholders in the road transportation sector.

Biu said the initiative was also to prevent escalation of road traffic crashes, fatalities and injuries.

“As the lead agency in road traffic administration and regulation in the country, the FRSC is quite aware of the recklessness of our drivers on the highways and have risen to confront this challenge head-on.

“Achieving sanity on the road goes beyond issues of law, regulations, policies and enforcement.

“There is need for collective participation and collaboration of all stakeholders and that is why we are here today.”

He said avoidable crashes involving trailers overloaded with animals, goods and passengers have been recorded in the last few months with attendant loss of lives and properties.

“This ugly situation is happening irrespective of the aggressive public enlightenment and sensitization campaigns carried out by the corps across its formations nationwide.

“The corps has risen to the challenge of playing a cardinal role in curbing further escalation of crashes involving trailers on the highways, especially the case of loading trailers with animals, goods and passengers.

“One of the strategic initiatives is this inter-agency task force aimed at complimenting conventional patrol activities as well as enlightenment campaigns that are already in place to address this issue,” Biu said.

According to him, the Kaduna-Abuja highway, a bustling artery connecting southern part of Nigeria, has become a death trap to motorists as a result of crashes involving trailers carrying goods, animals and passengers.

“This tragedy when it occurs usually result to quantum loss of lives and properties beyond imagination in a single crash.

“The crash does not only claim lives but leaves behind shattered families with dashed hopes and dreams, as well as traumatizing sympathizers that witnessed it,” he added.

According to the corps marshal, the ugly trend must be stopped, so that commuters could reach their destinations safely.

“It is important to inform you that, statistical records of rescue carried out by FRSC on crashes involving trailers carrying goods, animals and passengers along Kaduna-Abuja highway indicates that there is a sharp increase in these crashes which resulted in increase in fatalities and injuries.”

The corps marshal urged members of the task force “to ensure safety of our fellow citizens and rewrite the narratives to make a difference on our highways.

“This is also the time to display our professionalism to scale down wanton destruction of lives and properties along Kaduna-Abuja highway.”

He said the task before them was to reduce road traffic crashes, and enforce, regulate and educate the motoring public on obedience to traffic rules and regulations.

Biu appealed to chairmen of transport unions to admonish their members to desist from conveying animals, humans and goods together, so as to save lives.

He appreciated the support being given to FRSC by the Kaduna State Government, local councils, heads of security agencies, and leaders of transport unions.

Earlier, the Kaduna state Sector Commander, Mr Kabir Nadabo, said recent trends have necessitated a more robust strategy to arrest the menace of motorists who engage in overloading.

He appealed to motorists, particularly articulated vehicle drivers, to desist from the “outrageously dangerous” habit of overloading their vehicles with animals, goods and humans. (NAN)

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