FRSC restates commitment to UN road safety campaign

By Ibironke Ariyo

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) is  dedicated to achieving the goals of the United Nations’ campaign aimed at reducing road traffic crashes.

The Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Malam Shehu Mohammed, made this known while declaring open a one-day seminar organised to review the Marrakech declaration on road safety in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the UN General Assembly, in resolution 64/255 ‘Improving global road safety,’ declared 2011 to 2020 as the Decade of Action for Road Safety with the goal to stabilise and reduce the forecast level of road traffic fatalities around the world by in- creasing activities conducted at the national, regional .

NAN also reports that the the Marrakech Declaration, adopted at the 4th Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety in Marrakech, Mor

occo, in February, calls on governments worldwide to prioritise road safety politically, ensure sustained funding, and implement strategic actions to reduce road trauma.

Mohammed said that FRSC as the lead agency for road traffic management and safety administration in the country had always been active in road safety campaigns at the various levels.

He recalled that FRSC was well represented at the first global road safety conference held in Moscow, Russia in 2009 which led to the first United Nations declaration of 2011-2020 as Decade of Action For road safety.

Nigeria, under the FRSC’s auspices, he said was among the first countries to launch the global road safety campaign initiated by the UN.

“Let me therefore restate that FRSC will remain committed to the success of the goals of the campaign as espoused in the 2021-2030 which the United Nations declared,”

The expressed appreciation to the road safety stakeholders and NGOs for their untiring support for road safety campaign.

Mohammed also commended the founder of Kwapda’ as Road Safety Demand (KRSD), Justice Monica Dongban–Mensem for the patriotic role she played during the last global conference on road safety held in Marrakech, Morocco.

This, he said led to the declaration being reviewed at the seminar and called on other NGOs to emulate her example.

In her remarks, Dongban-Mensem, who is also the President of the Court of Appeal praised the FRSC for its consistency in promoting the ideals of safer road environment.

She charged all the Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) committed to the cause of road safety to do more in their advocacy programs in promoting road safety in the country.

She also expressed the willingness of her NGO to pursue the goals of road safety with greater aggression.

Other speakers who are experts engaged in discussion aimed at reviewing the Marrakech declaration with recommendations on the way forward.

Also at the seminar, the two awards won by Nigeria for its commitment to issues of road safety were publicly presented.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)