2022: Robust enforcement, public enlightenment campaign will address road traffic issue in FCT-Ochi
By Peter Usman://
As part of measures to reduce road traffic crashes in 2022, the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, FCT Sector Command, said it has strategized to adopt robust enforcement and sustain public enlightenment and sensitization campaign to address all road traffic issues including congestion in the territory.
The Sector Commander, FRSC in the Federal Capital Territory, Samuel Oga Ochi, made this declaration recently in Abuja, while briefing journalists on score card for 2021and plans for 2022.
Ochi also stated that the Command would broaden and sustain stakeholder engagement and translate the Nigerian Highway Code into local languages for easy understanding in order to address road users including keke Napep, motorcycle riders that have no access to formal education.
The Sector Commander, while highlighting some of the achievements recorded in 2021, said there was significant reduction of road traffic crashes in 2021compared to 2019 and 2020 by (9.18% and 3% respectively.
Other achievements recorded include improved response time to road traffic crashes, creation of additional outpost in Apo and Mararaba axis to curtail the high volume of traffic and vehicular population, enhanced collaboration with the media and all stakeholders and decongestion of traffic flash point within FCT among others.
On the challenges FRSC in FCT encountered in 2021, Ochi said, “We noticed that most of the crashes occurred between the hours of 2200hrs to 0400hrs. In view of the fact that full operational activities are not carried out at night, addressing the issues responsible for these crashes is still a challenge.
“Operatives of the Corps have of recent been confronted with violent traffic offenders in the FCT. Increasing number of vehicles in the FCT leading to traffic congestions that require additional hands and equipment for effective traffic management”
Speaking on road traffic crashes in 2021, Ochi disclosed that, a total number of 964 crashes were record with 144 fatal cases, 626 serious cases, 194 minor cases and 4897 people were involved.
He further stated that during this period, 1914 people were injured, 1355 vehicles involved and 189 people involved in these crashes were killed.
