The Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) has kicked off a project to ensure that pupils in primary schools in Nigeria have safe trips to school and back.

Speaking on Thursday at the launch of the project in Bayelsa State, Mr. Alaye Dokubo, Government and Community Relations Manager in Charge of Bayelsa and Delta operational areas of SPDC, noted that safety is a fundament part of the oil firm’s operations.

He said that the company is committed to ensuring that pupils received education in a safe way by making sure they were taken to schools in a safe atmosphere.

Dokubo said that six primary schools were selected in collaboration with Bayelsa Ministry of Education and Bayelsa Command of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) who are implementing partners in the project.

According to him, the project will involve the creation of zebra crossing singnages at the selected schools within the high traffic routes, training of teachers to serve as Zebra Crossing Guides as well as training of the pupils on road safety habbits.

Speaking at the launch, Mr. Nduka Ejoor, Chief Executive, Ace Centre, Consultants to SPDC on the project, noted that 90 per cent of Nigerian School children walk to school and were at risk due to high population of untrained drivers on Nigerian roads.

Mr. Ayuba Wobin, Bayelsa Sector Commandant of FRSC, commended SPDC for embarking on the project to instill road safety habits on children at a tender age.

He noted that FRSC had developed a road safety curriculum for schools which were in use by Road Safety Clubs adding that the command would work with heads of the six selected schools to inaugurate the Road Safety Clubs in the clubs selected for the project.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Markson Fefegha, Bayelsa Commissioner for Education noted that road crossing was a challenge to both children and adults and applauded SPDC for reintroducing zebra crossings which were defaced due to road construction projects.

Fefegha who was represented by Mrs. Ann Amosame said that the challenge of maintaining safe routes to school was surmountable given the combined efforts of the partners on the project.

Hundreds of primary school pupils from the six selected schools witnessed the launch of the project.

Master Paul Nelson a pupil of St. Mathias Primary School Amarata said that putting a Zebra Crossing across the road opposite the school would reduce the sufferings of pupils who were often knocked down by impatient drivers.

Nelson noted that the road safety tips given to them at the programme would be of immense value as he would pass it on to his friends who were not selected to represent the school.

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