The Kogi Government and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Sunday, inaugurated a sensitisation campaign against road traffic crashes in the state.
Our Correspondent reports that the first campaign train was taken to the ECWA Goodness Church at 200 unit Lokoja, where the team declared “No to untimely death of innocent lives in Kogi.”
Speaking during the campaign, the Senior Special Adviser (SSA) to the Governor on road safety matters, Dr Suberu Yusuf-John, said Gov. Ahmed Ododo was concerned about the loss of lives and property on Kogi roads.
According to him, road safety is a shared responsibility adding that together, we can save lives, since road traffic crashes are preventable.
“We are here in your church as part of our campaign against road traffic crashes, to plead with you to join us in the crusade to save the lives of our brothers and sisters.
“Gov. Ododo’s administration is out to see that we all fight the menace and save our people from untimely and cruel death on our roads being perpetrated by reckless motorists
“Ododo has prioritised safety chiefly because kogi is a major transit hub in Nigeria and doesn’t want a single life to die on our highways
“As part of proactive measures, immediately after the month long sensitisation campaign, we shall embark on enforcement to ensure that defaulters face the wrath of the law” he said.
Yusuf-John urged residents to support the campaign.
Besides, he explained that the campaign was aimed at educating road users on the causes of road crashes, promote safe living habits, and reduce accidents, injuries and loses of lives in kogi.
Meanwhile, he blamed most of the road crashes to human, mechanical and environmental factors, which he said could be checked if motorists and commuters were vigilant enough.
“Again, resting before long journeys, using seat belts and avoidance of use of phone while driving, will go a along way in reducing road traffic crashes, ” he said.
He added that the campaign train would also go round Mosques, tertiary institutions and secondary schools across the state, for positive results.
In his remarks, the ECWA Minister in charge, Rev. Paul Ogere, commended the state government for embarking on the sensitisation campaign, adding that he believes it would save lives in the state.
The cleric appealed to government to ensure that roads were accessible, and to station more security personnel along the roads to ensure safety of travellers.
