VICE President Kashim Shettima has called for a comprehensive reform of Nigeria’s road safety measures.
He issued this directive yesterday during a meeting with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) leadership, headed by Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The directive aims to tackle the nation’s road safety issues and significantly lower the number of accidents, as stated by his spokesman, Stanley Nkwocha.
Shettima highlighted the urgent need to confront the rising number of road crashes on the highways, emphasizing the importance of utilizing technology and enforcing regulations to enhance road safety.
“We require a thorough solution to our road safety issues. The entire system is not functioning as it should,” Shettima remarked, calling for “deliberate efforts to address our road challenges,” in accordance with international best practices seen in countries like Dubai and the UK.
“In places like Dubai and the UK, they have systems in place to monitor traffic violators, capture their license plate numbers, and automatically charge them from their bank accounts. This incentivizes law compliance. We must cultivate a disciplined society,” he stated.
He also noted that the work of the FRSC is closely linked to that of the Nigerian Police, as it is an integral part of the nation’s security framework.
Drawing comparisons to effective security measures he observed in Enugu State, he noted, “I was in Enugu yesterday, and the state government is performing admirably. The governor has established a security system that ensures the entire state, including forest areas, is under surveillance.”
In the coming days, Vice President Shettima will inaugurate the National Road Safety Advisory Council, tasked with the goal of halving traffic accidents by 2030.