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Sallah: FRSC Deploys 18,000 Personnel, Vehicles …To Use Radar For Speed Tracking

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The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), said it had deployed 18,000 personnel including regular and special marshals, 800 patrol vehicles, 60 motor bikes, 52 ambulances and six heavy duty tow trucks along critical corridors of the highways as part of plans to ensure an accident-free Sallah celebration.
The corps stated that the nationwide special patrol slated for between September 30 and October, 12, 2014, was in line with its continued drive to achieve its 2014 strategic goals of reducing road traffic crashes by 15 per cent and fatalities by 25 per cent especially during the festive season.
A statement by the Corps Education Officer, Stella Uchegbu, yesterday in Abuja, noted that the exercise was designed in view of the expected high vehicular movement during the Sallah celebration and to address the possible tendencies for road traffic regulations violations by motorists.
According to the FRSC, the special patrol which is aimed at addressing the spate of avoidable road crashes usually associated with the festive season is an all-inclusive exercise that would entail intensive patrols, prompt rescue services, strict enforcement of traffic rules and robust public enlightenment campaigns across the country.
It said, “Objectives of this special exercise include the removal of obstructions from the highways, traffic control/decongestion, public enlightenment campaigns through the distribution of safety handbills, radio and television talk shows and other forms of awareness campaign, in addition to strict enforcement of road traffic regulation.
“Infractions such as the use of cell phone while driving, overloading, wrongful overtaking, lane violation, dangerous driving, drink driving, obstruction and other road vices will form part of the patrol thrust while the Corps’ operatives will equally check speed limit violation through the use of radar guns.”
Aside from massive deployment of personnel and logistics along designated corridors and black spots, the FRSC explained that it would also utilize its ‘9 Help Areas’ along Hawa Kibo, Akwanga, Gwagwalada, Lokoja, Ore, Egbeda, Mowe, Oghere and Kakau highways, in addition to the establishment of mobile courts at specific locations across the country for quick dispensation with road traffic offences.
Speaking on the Sallah special patrol, the Corps Marshal, Boboye Oyeyemi said that the nationwide exercise is part of the Corps’ sustained efforts to build on its ‘Ember months’ campaigns which, he said would be sustained throughout the end of the year to mitigate road crashes during the yuletide season.
He added that the agency has a consistent tradition of enforcing traffic rules and regulations throughout the year to avoid a one-off approach to road safety management in the country.
Commenting on speed limit violation, Oyeyemi said, “Our findings indicate that speed limit violations remain a prevalent factor on road traffic crashes, accounting for 39 per cent of road crashes recorded nationwide between January to August 2014. Out of all causative factors, speed violation, dangerous driving and loss of control which are speed-related, contribute to most crashes on our roads.
“This scenario informed a recent resolution after a stakeholders’ forum in Abuja to commence a nationwide enforcement of the compulsory use of speed limiters in all vehicles from June 1, 2015, with commercial vehicles forming part of the phase one of this proposed enforcement.”
The Corps Marshal also said that various forms of advocacy programmes have been initiated by the Corps to create robust nationwide awareness on the speed limiters which has been approved by the Standards Organization of Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in Ota, Ogun, said that it would use the radar gun device to detect speeding by motorists during the Eid-el-Kabir Sallah festival.
The Ota Unit Command of FRSC, Mr Sunday Omafu, said yesterday that the device would curtail the excesses of drivers and reduce road crashes.
“The motorists should desist from excessive speeding during the Sallah festival because they would be caught by the device,” Omafu said.
He said that the command would be on alert to carry out necessary rescue and enforcement during the period.
Omafu said that anyone caught would be prosecuted according to the state traffic law, adding that motorists should be ready to drive safe.
He, however, advised the Ogun Government to formulate strict transport laws that would check motorists like the one in Lagos State.

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I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo

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The Sole Administrator of Emohua Local Government Area, Barr. Franklin Ajinwo, has reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to supporting community development, peace, and progress, describing it as his life’s calling.
Ajinwo made this known on when Okporowo Vanguard—a foremost association dedicated to driving sustainable development in Okporowo community—paid him a courtesy visit at the Council Secretariat, Emohua.

Speaking during the visit, the Emolga  Council boss advised the group to shun internal wranglings and leadership tussles, cautioning that such impediments could undermine their collective goals. He emphasized that unity is strength, and true power comes only from God.

Highlighting his ongoing efforts in repositioning standards within Emohua Local Government, Barr. Ajinwo commended Okporowo Vanguard for initiating plans to conduct large-scale skills acquisition training for young people in Okporowo. He assured them of his steadfast support towards such developmental initiative.

The former Chairman of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in Rivers State stressed the need for selfless service, saying it is essential for achieving peace, unity, and development in any community.

He applauded the group’s vision of empowering youths through skills acquisition, aligning it with global best practices aimed at reducing dependency on white-collar jobs.

Earlier, the President of Okporowo Vanguard, Hon. Israel Emeji, outlined Barr. Ajinwo’s numerous and impactful contributions to the development of Okporowo community.

According to him, every family in the community has benefited from Barr. Ajinwo’s dedicated employment initiatives.

Hon. Emeji disclosed that during his tenure as Head of Local Government Administration (HLGA) and as NULGE Chairman, Barr. Ajinwo facilitated the employment of over five hundred (500) individuals from Okporowo community—a record that informed the association’s decision to honour him with the Excellent Leadership Award.

In a vote of thanks, the Secretary of the group, Dr. Okechukwu Godwin Amadi, praised Barr. Ajinwo’s outstanding leadership and unwavering support, both before and after his appointment as Sole Administrator.

He thanked him for the warm reception and appreciated members of Okporowo Vanguard for their strong turnout and continuous support for the present administration.

In their separate remarks, Barr. Kelvin Ajinwo, Chief Polycarp Ndala, and other dignitaries present prayed for God’s continued guidance and protection over Barr. Ajinwo, describing him as a divine gift to the Okporowo community.

They expressed hope that he would be granted even more leadership opportunities to further uplift the living standards of the people.

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RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP  …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others

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Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their  living conditions.

This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.

Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s

She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.

According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.

The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while  bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.

Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.

Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.

According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.

He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.

Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may  lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.

During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.

The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.

He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.

Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.

They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.

At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.

King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.

Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.

Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.

At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.

He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.

Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.

 

John Bibor

 

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Senate Replaces Natasha As Committee Chairman 

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The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.

Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.

Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.

Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.

In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.

However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.

Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.

In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.

Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.

“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.

 

 

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