The Federal Government has directed immediate enforcement of traffic rules across the country to reduce crashes and ensure safety on the highways.
Mr Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of Federation (SGF), gave the directive in Abuja at the commemoration of the 2022 World Remembrance Day for Road Traffic Crash Victims.
Noted that the theme for the 2022 remembrance day is “Justice, act for low speed and act for low speed streets”.
Mustapha said that enforcement of the existing traffic safety laws must be pursued vigorously and offenders severely punished.
He said that the country had many traffic safety laws which should be enforced to boost compliance level.
The SGF added that public awareness and road safety campaigns must be robust and sustained all-round the year and not limited to only festive seasons.
According to him, awareness and adherence to traffic safety regulations by road users are important in reducing the frequency of road traffic crashes.
“The relevant authorities saddled with this responsibility must find a way to ensure that the combination of both sensitisation and enforcement are prioritised at all times.
“On this note, FRSC must ensure that only drivers who are trained and certified are allowed to drive in Nigeria,” he added.
Mustapha expressed concern that most citizens “see a driver’s license as a tool for identification and not for the purpose for which it is intended.
“The consequence is that incompetent and unfit persons may be certified to drive and this could spell disaster.
“Above all, public enlightenment programmes aimed at educating road users on the safe use of roads should be vigorously pursued.“
The SGF, who was represented by the Acting Corps Marshal, Dauda Biu, said Nigeria would continue to build road safety management capacity and improve road infrastructure.
According him, injuries, disabilities and deaths resulting from road traffic crashes remain a public health concern.
“As Nigeria’s economy grows, the volume of traffic was projected to rise, from eight million vehicles in 2013 to 20 million by 2020 and 40 million by 2030.
“With this in mind, the present administration has committed enormous resources to improving road safety management and ensuring that the mandate of FRSC was achieved.
“That is why the administration has maintained its resolve towards ensuring that policy formulation and implementation at various levels of government are done putting into cognizance this growing problem as a public health crisis.
“The Federal Government has also ensured that adequate budgetary allocation is channelled to road infrastructure as could be seen in massive construction of new roads and rehabilitation of existing ones nationwide,“ he said. (NAN)