The National Secretary-General of Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Mr Abdullahi Jabi, on Wednesday called for a quick completion of the Lokoja-Abuja road.
Jabi told newsmen in Abuja that this would help to ease the movement of commuters and goods during the forthcoming yuletide and the New Year.
He said the completion of the road would reduce the frequent traffic gridlocks on the road, especially during festive periods.
“This is a wake-up call to those in authority to make sure that the road projects are completed within the time given to the contractors.
“The contract for the Lokoja-Abuja road has been there for over 10 years.
“By implication, this contract has dragged too much and we have lost a lot of human and material resources, which is not in the interest of Nigeria.”
Jabi said RTEAN had begun its “ember-months road accident rescue operations” by deploying ambulances.
He said the association would also provide first aid services and medical care for road accident victims.
The secretary said the exercise would help in reducing accident on the roads “especially as we are approaching the festive period.
“This is the period when the country is witnessing an increase in movement of people and goods from one part of the country to another, especially by road.
“If we have emergency rescue and response, it will go a long way in alleviating the suffering of victims when an accident occurs and this is what we are trying to achieve,” the RTEAN secretary said.
Jabi stressed the need for transport organisations and operators to be trained and retrained to enhance their profession.
He said such training would also help to reduce the rate of accidents on the highways.