By Godwin-Maria Utuedoye
The Sector Commander, Delta State Command of the Federal Road Safety Corpse (FRSC), Mr. Eshiet Udeme Bassey, has called on policy makers in Nigeria to work towards the United Nation’s (UN) move to introduce a safer and better transportation system that will guarantee safety of it’s citizens and promote healthy lifestyle.
Mr. Eshiet made the call while speaking with journalists in the capital city of Asaba, Delta State on the activities lined up to celebrate the seventh United Nations Global Road Safety week, with theme, “Sustainable Transport,” saying that it was imperative for Nigeria to tag along as the world was gradually shifting from fueled vehicles to electric system for a sustainable transport system that would provide safety, accessibility and environmental friendly transport in the country.
He said that the whole essence of the celebration was to make every country have sustainable transport system, adding that the present transportation system in the country apart from the incessant accident and attendant loss of lives, has passed serious danger to the life of the citizenry do largely to gas emissions from unmaintained vehicles.
According to him, “Because of the frightening data of road clashes and others occasioned by fuel vehicles, there is urgent needs for us to move away from a system that would always damage the public via dangerous emissions of burning of fuel in vehicles and gas emissions. “
“We are celebrating the seventh United Nations global road Safety week, the whole essence is to make sure we have sustainable transport system in the world. We are looking at train, ship and other electric mobilities which the United Nations want to introduce to the people, even though we have been able to surmount the trend of road clashes.”
The Sector Command of the FRSC Delta State Command, said stakeholders in the transport sector have been educated on the need to move towards the direction of sustainable transport system which according to him will engender a safer and more friendly environment.
He therefore urged policy makers to think outside the box, and adhere strictly to United Nations directive that all Nations, including Nigeria, should shift to a sustainable transport mobility as it will go along way not to in ameliorating the problems associated with the country’s present transportation system but safeguarding our environment.
“The need for safety conciousness to make a shift from transport system that will endangered lives to what will make human lives sustained is to re-introduce cycling, electronic Motor, ship and train system that will make people safe by reducing the number of of vehicles and to reduce road clashes on our roads.”
“We may not be fully prepared in this particular campaign but we can start from somewhere in saving people’s lives. If you go into cycling you build our health, hence we encourage people to use ship, train to sustain the lives of the people because they will not be inhaling dangerous gas into their body system.”
Mr. Eshiet tasked all vehicle owners in the country to install speed limit devices in their vehicles, and maintain their vehicles, particularly the smoking ones in order not to endanger the lives of others.
He also advised vehicle drivers to allow passengers in their vehicles to have a say, because passengers need to be taken from one point to another successfully and safely too.