Connect with us
Advertisment

society

33 YEARS OF ROAD SAFETY ADMINISTRATION, TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT IN NIGERIA, JOURNEY SO FAR

Published

on

33 YEARS OF ROAD SAFETY ADMINISTRATION, TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT IN NIGERIA, JOURNEY SO FAR

Advertisment

By Assistant Corps Marshal (ACM( Bisi Kazeem fsi

 

Advertisment

The ugly narrative of Road Traffic crashes in the early 70s changed through Federal Government’s resilience in the establishment of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in 1988, as the Lead Agency in road safety administration and traffic management in Nigeria via decree no 45 of 1988 as amended by decree no 35 of 1992, later codified as FRSC Act (CAP 141) Laws of the Federation 1990 and FRSC Act CAP F19, LFN, 2004; FRSC (Establishment) Act, 2007.

Being a strategic intervention to address the ugly trend of road crashes, the FRSC has, since its establishment operated in line with best global practices. The organisation was specifically established and empowered by legislation to coordinate road safety administration and traffic management in Nigeria with an ultimate aim of halting the trend of road traffic crashes and fatalities on all roads (204,000km) in the country, and its Laws and Regulations can be exercised in any part of the country.

The major goal of the founding fathers was for the Corps to become a world class organisation that will fulfill its primary purpose of existence, and align herself towards realizing all United Nations resolutions on reduction of deaths and injuries on the roads and make Nigerian roads one of the safest in the world.

Advertisement

To achieve this cardinal mandate of saving lives without compromise, the FRSC religiously chose the path of honour in efficient service conveyance, by delivering high quality services in line with a Quality Management Policy that is not at variance with other laws of the land in respect to road safety administration and management in the country. Unlike other agencies of government, the establishment of FRSC was in conformity with the lead agency concept recommended by the United Nations and World Health Organization, that member nations should dedicate an agency of government to lead in coordinating Road safety management as a best practice to combat the scourge of death and injuries from RTC.

Prior to the establishment of the FRSC in 1988, the World Health Organization (WHO) had adjudged Nigeria, the second only behind Ethiopia, as the most dangerous country in the world to drive a motor vehicle.

In its thirty three years as lead agency in traffic and safety management, FRSC has recorded tremendous achievements in the area of Traffic Engineering, Road Safety Administration, Traffic Management, rescue operation, and Crash reduction. It has achieved this glorious feat, as a result of a chain of leadership ingenuity that led to the fusion of the services of volunteers called Special Marshals and social responsibility groups in its programmes to enhance road safety management in Nigeria.

To this end, road safety administration in Nigeria has witnessed a paradigm shift from Traditional approach to Safe Systems Approach through the use of state of the art Information Technology facilities; the Corps has been able to enhance its operational capacity aimed at promoting public safety and security. The Corps under different governmental and administrative leaderships has proven to allay the menace of road traffic crashes in the past 33 years.

Considering that road transport sector in Nigeria accounts for over 90% of passengers and freight movement, this exerts undue pressure on the FRSC in discharging its cardinal responsibilities. In view of the foregoing, the Corps has over the years embarked on several reforms which include but not limited to the following: Development of a national road safety strategy road map, established a National Road Safety Advisory Council (NaRSAC) which is directly under the Office of the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo improved operational efficiency, enhanced regulatory environment, and accelerated response capability to situations that needed immediate actions.

The Corps therefore defined its cause in tandem with UN Decade of Action as well as the mantra of functional 21st century organisation by chatting a path to meet the Accra Declaration of 50% reduction in fatality by 2015, achieve the UN decade of action on road Safety of 50% fatality reduction by 2021 and the rollover of UN Decade of Action in 2031.

The Corps has now come of age after going through good times and tides. In its thirty Three years journey, it recorded for instance, a commendable 62.4% reduction in crash from 40,881 in 1976 to 25,792 within its first operational year alone. In this regard, it is instructive to state that the Corps has doggedly fought RTC from the unacceptable 40,881 of 1976 down to 10522 in 2020. The statistics above shows that the Corps is gaining grounds accordingly.

As a performance driven organisation with clearly set measurable Key performance Indicators, FRSC is today, the only law enforcement organization in Nigeria certified by the International Standard organization. The Corps has over three decades designed and operated 28 web applications for its operational activities so as to create an accessible platform for the general public.

The introduction of the toll free 122 emergency number and a 24 hours call center established to reduce response time for crash victims; a single step that has reduced emergency response time from 50 minutes to 15 minutes thereby decreasing the number of fatalities in crash situations. More so, the introduction of Verification Portal for drivers licence and number plates, the introduction of the Road Transport Safety Standardisation Scheme (RTSSS) for uniformity and harmonization of fleet operators in the country, the Driving School Standardisation Scheme (DSSP), the introduction of the speed limiting device whose enforcement began on 1st February, 2017, and the vehicle tracking system among others, are policies formulated and implemented to fight road traffic crash to extinction.

Further to the aforementioned, as one of the nation’s custodian of critical data infrastructure, the Corps has successfully strengthened inter-agency cooperation with relevant stakeholders such as the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), and Banks in Nigeria with evident success in inter agency collaboration and harmonization of data for national development.

Again, it is noteworthy to look at the direction of the present leadership of Dr Boboye Oyememi’s swift response to the incessant abuse of traffic rules which led to the putting together of the OPERATION COBRA to address certain life-threatening traffic-related offences. This singular step has become instrumental to the decline in crash rate as offenders apprehended by the Operation Cobra squad are usually referred to a government health facility for Emotional Stability Test. Oyeyemi’s Management has so far constructed and inaugurated 16 permanent structures in various Sector commands, with other two awaiting inauguration.

To achieve the stated targets, the Corps has developed transformational initiatives focused on People, Processes and Technology (PPT) that is why today not only does its staff pride as the most disciplined but the Corps stands as the best Information Technology (IT) driven organization in Nigeria with its robust data base and over 95 percentage digitalized administrative and operational procedures.

It is therefore expedient to state that the era covering the period of reign of the present Corps Marshal, Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi, and establishment of State Traffic Agencies was encouraged to further complement the function of the FRSC within the states. The Corps also embarks in consultation with stakeholders who have become more involved through the mechanism of the special marshals, celebrity Special Marshals and road Safety clubs. The deployment of FRSC personnel to Tank Farms has to a large degree, dwindled the rate of crashes associated with articulated vehicles, particularly tankers carrying petroleum products. Through its Safe-to- Load initiative, articulated vehicle have been subjected to checks before they are allowed to load from the various depots across the country with trained personnel of the Corps undertaken routine checks to ensure strict compliance.

In pursuit of aggressive public enlightenment programme, the FRSC Management under him established the National Traffic Radio 107.1 FM in October, 2019 as a medium for educating mass members of the public on traffic matters and updating them of road conditions across the country. The Corps further introduced a massive welfare scheme through the Post Service Scheme and the 20,000 Housing project for Staff.

With its present 12 Zonal Commands, 37 Sector Commands, 213 Unit Commands, 41 Out Posts, FRSC Academy, FRSC Training Schools, FRSC Staff College, 214 Driver License Centres/Work Stations, 1 Signage Plant, 1 National Driver License Print Farm, 43 Emergency Ambulance Points (ZEBRAs), and 17 Staff Clinics; it’s quite in order to posit that the Corps has witnessed tremendous expansion in these 33 years rising from its hitherto few command structures to having representation in the 774 Local Governments of the Federation.

On the global scene, FRSC takes leadership role of West African road Safety Organisation (WARSO) as part of measures to scale up the bar on road safety management within the West African region. . Further to this, the Corps has provided technical assistance to Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ethiopia and so on. It has secured implementation of a policy robust engagement with international organizations for capacity building including world bank project on Safe corridor Project etc. Apart from succeeded in securing the endorsement of National Road Safety Strategy in 2016, FRSC made Nigeria the first African country to be admitted into International Traffic Safety Data analysis group IRTAD, became the first African country to accede to six (6) United Nations Conventions on Road Safety. This is to align with global best practice and domesticate the standards.

These efforts have given the organization awards both national and international especially during a workshop under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa in Adis Ababa, Ethiopia, where the FRSC was adjudged the best lead agency on road safety management in Africa.

In the same vein, the Corps’ success story has been attributed to its establishment under the Presidency with clear mandate and budget, also identified the introduction of a world class drivers’ licensing standard by the FRSC which is difficult to forge, building and maintenance of a dedicated work force including regular marshals and a volunteer arm and optimal deployment of technology, a feat which has been described as unparalleled in Africa, South of the Sahara.

Experts in the transportation industry also identified data utilization and transparency as one of the Corps’ quick win strategies which has ensured effective management of traffic-related matters through a weekly reportage of traffic trends, utilisation of data for performance monitoring and targeted interventions, effective monitoring, evaluation and planning, in addition to transparent evaluation of trends and sustained drive for improved performance.

In recognising the leadership role FRSC has played in shaping Nigeria’s Road Safety in thirty three (33) years, it is important to acknowledge that the level of awareness and citizen’s view of road safety as a collective responsibility together with political will of the government is the reason for the achievements so far recorded.
Bisi Kazeem is the Corps Public Education Officer, FRSC

Advertisment

society

PFN warns Lagos State chapter of CAN to steer clear internal affairs of the state’s chapter

Published

on

PFN warns Lagos State chapter of CAN to steer clear internal affairs of the state’s chapter

 

Advertisment

By Ifeoma Ikem

 

Advertisment

The Senior Pastor of A Torch From Heaven Ministry, Bishop Joe Ighalo has warned the Chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Bishop Steven Adegbite to steer clear from the internal affairs of the state’s chapter of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN).

Ighalo said this during a press briefing titled: “State of Our State; Our Stand” in Lagos.

He said that the Adegbite-led Lagos chapter of CAN should not bring politics into the kingdom matters, especially when it has to do with the Lagos State chapter of PFN.

Advertisement

According to him, there is no doubt that CAN is the umbrella body of the PFN, but they should be allowed to handle its internal affairs.

“Why would you want to destroy PFN and keep CAN going, this is against the mission of the founding fathers of the PFN,” he said.

Ighalo noted that the issue between CAN and PFN began when the national body of the PFN failed to ratify the election of Pastor Kehinde, the acclaimed winner of the February 5, 2024 PFN Chairmanship election.

The PFN national body did not ratify the election as it said that there were anomalies in the process.

However, the Lagos CAN Chairman, Bishop Adegbite, reportedly led a protest against the development, which prompted Bishop Ighalo to say that CAN does not have any constitutional right or power over PFN, and warned that they should not interfere with the affairs of the PFN.

Also speaking, the Senior Pastor of Agape Worship Center, Ojodu, Lagos, Dr. David Odi said that as far as he was concerned, Lagos State is one of the most organised states in Nigeria in terms of economy, leadership and ministry, adding that this must be respected.

Odi explained that those who are behind the issue are trying to create problems that doesn’t exist in PFN body since inception so that whoever is voted into office would owe them allegiance.

“There’s no fight or crisis in Lagos PFN. I don’t even know any other person who is interested in the position,” he added.

According to him, i believed that the current chairman of the Lagos State chapter of PFN has served his term and is on his way out, and that Pastor Kehinde is not dragging the position with anybody.

“I don’t know any other person that will take the position until proper election is conducted.

“I’m optimistic that if there’s any election tomorrow, next week or next month, Pastor Kehinde will still win because nobody is dragging it with him.

“Those people still occupying the seat have finished their terms,just for them to exchange mantle and congratulated Pastor Kehinde.

“People behind the crisis are those who have peculiar interest in filthy lucre that the Bible talked about. Some people are driven by hunger for money. They are doing this because of the 2027 general elections ,” he said.

He added that some people want to make Pastor Kehinde believe that they fought for him to get into the office.

Meanwhile, nobody is fighting to bring anybody in, if there’s election anytime we would still vote for him.

In his contributions, Dr. Bolaji Akinyemi, Convener of Apostolic Round Table, (ART)
said that nobody will destroyed or throw fire into his house to burn it down because of selfish interest.

Stressing that “PFN is our room” and “CAN is our building,” and the matter will soon be resolved amicably.

Stakeholders in PFN have set up a committee to resolve the matter between those that are involved as any house that is divided against itself do not stand .

Advertisment
Continue Reading

society

OSINACHI CHIBUZO ONYEOZIRI: FROM HEALING TO DATA BY CHINEDU NSOFOR

Published

on

OSINACHI CHIBUZO ONYEOZIRI: FROM HEALING TO DATA

BY
CHINEDU NSOFOR

 

Advertisment

 

In the dynamic landscape of modern careers, few individuals traverse diverse paths with the same vigor and determination as Osinachi Chibuzo Onyeoziri. His journey unfolds like a tapestry woven with threads of healing and data, melding the worlds of medicine and technology into a seamless narrative of achievement and innovation.

Advertisment

Osinachi’s odyssey began in the hallowed halls of the Escuela Latinoamericana de Medicina in Havana, Cuba, where he embarked on a quest for knowledge that would shape his future. From 2001 to 2007, he diligently pursued his Doctorate in Medicine (MD), honing his skills and nurturing a passion for healing that would define his early career.

After completing his medical education, Osinachi returned to his homeland, Nigeria, where he dedicated over three years of his life to serving as a Medical Officer at the 81 Division Hospital/Medical Services in Lagos. In this role, he delivered compassionate care to countless patients, whether in outpatient clinics, emergency rooms, or inpatient wards. His commitment to excellence extended beyond bedside manner, as he spearheaded initiatives to enhance clinical processes, ensuring optimal outcomes for those under his care.

However, Osinachi’s journey took an unexpected turn as he felt a calling towards the realm of data science. In 2022, he embarked on a new educational endeavor, enrolling in the Masters in Data Science Management program at the Rome Business School in Lagos, Nigeria. Here, he delved into the intricacies of data analysis, mastering the tools and techniques necessary to extract insights from vast troves of information.

Advertisement

Armed with his newfound expertise, Osinachi emerged as a multifaceted professional, seamlessly blending his medical background with his data-driven acumen. His skill set transcended traditional boundaries, encompassing program and project management, process improvement, business development, and leadership.

One of Osinachi’s defining attributes is his unwavering commitment to continuous learning and development. Throughout his career, he has embraced opportunities to expand his horizons, acquiring proficiency in technical tools such as SQL, Tableau, and Python, while also refining soft skills like critical thinking, problem-solving, and effective communication.

Moreover, Osinachi’s bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish has enabled him to navigate diverse cultural landscapes with ease, fostering connections and collaborations across borders.

In reflecting on his journey, Osinachi remains humble, acknowledging the mentors, colleagues, and patients who have shaped his path. He sees his transition from medicine to data science not as a departure from his roots but as a natural evolution, driven by a desire to effect positive change on a broader scale.

As he stands at the intersection of healing and data, Osinachi Chibuzo Onyeoziri embodies the spirit of innovation and resilience, inspiring others to embrace the limitless possibilities that lie at the nexus of tradition and technology

Advertisment
Continue Reading

society

Wavy The Creator unveils empowering anthem “Star” collaborate with Victoria’s secret

Published

on

Wavy The Creator unveils empowering anthem "Star" collaborate with Victoria's secret.

Wavy The Creator unveils empowering anthem “Star” collaborate with Victoria’s secret.

 

Advertisment

A Nigerian-born US-based raising artist, Jennifer Ijeoma (Wavy the Creator), has announced the release of a new empowering anthem “Star” to celebrate resilience of womanhood across the globe.

 

Advertisment

 

 

Wavy The Creator, while making a disclosure in an electronic statement, said the anticipated single ‘STAR’ anthem in Collaboration with Victoria’s secret will be released on March 27th, 2024.

Advertisement

 

 

 

Speaking about the inspiration for “STAR,” she explained that it is a song that describes a woman as a strong, beautiful, and confident woman. The song represents every woman who was part of the world tour experience and every woman in the world.

 

Wavy The Creator unveils empowering anthem "Star" collaborate with Victoria's secret.

 

 

“The music serves as an empowerment anthem for self-belief and resilience, affirming that every woman is a celestial force in her own right.”

STAR, the song was collaborated with Victoria’s secret debuting as part of the prestigious Victoria’s Secret Tour ’23 and produced by Higo Blend’s afro melodies, a funk baseline, and post-disco percussion.

Wavy The Creator is a professional recording artist, photographer, fashion designer, and filmmaker based in Houston, Texas. She worked as the official photographer for Nigerian hip-hop artist Olumide in 2017.

Recently, she released her debut EP, P.S. Thanks you for waiting, and with her genre-defying sound and captivating vocals, features artists worldwide like CKay, Wurld, Efya, Tay Lwar, and others.
Edited by: Fashina Shakiru

Advertisment
Continue Reading

Cover Of The Week

Trending