Minister Laments Poor Safety Records

Transport Minister Alhaji Yusuf Suleiman has bemoaned the bad state of safety records in his ministry, saying such did not augur well about the transport sector especially this period of “ember months” when Nigerians experience mass movement of humans and materials on the nation’s roads.

The Minister therefore lambasted the transport ministry for its failure to maintain good safety records,” he lamented.

Suleiman who made the remark at the just concluded National Safety Professionals Conference Annual General Meeting and Exhibition of the Nigerian Institute of Safety Professionals (NISP) in Calabar, however, said he took solace in the conference theme “ Safety, Health and Environment for National Growth and Development,” for which he commended the organisers.

He said safety was among the most important physiological needs of man and brain behind most human inventions, expressing satisfaction at the mutual relationship existing between the NISP and the Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC) especially in ensuring safety of goods and persons on the roads.

He however, appealed to the NISP to broaden its efforts to also include other modes of transportation in the country like rail, sea, inland water ways and air.

Despite, the poor records, the minister disclosed that his ministry is not relenting in the making of a vibrant system capable of adequately meeting the needs of a modern industrialised economy.

Tt is for this reason he said the National Transport Master Plan was being fine tuned as he also disclosed that the president Goodluck Jonathan-led government is investing heavily in the sector with a view to reactivating, rehabilitating and modernising the Nigerian railways in addition to dredging of Rivers in Niger State to Warri in Delta State for navigational purposes.

In his address, the National President of NISP, Alhaji Lateef Alebiosu, while acknowledging the numerous contributions of the institute through its awareness programmes and educative courses, called on government to further empower the institute with an enabling Act that will further enhance its efforts.

He solicited for the support of Nigerians towards its services to mankind since it is a non-profit oriented organisation.