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Jonas Ike, Abuja
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) will next week begin radio broadcasting in the Federal Capital Territory FCT Abuja to enlighten Nigerians on road safety tips ahead of the impending festive season the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Corps Marshal of FRSC Mr Oyeyemi Boboye made the disclosure on Monday during a public hearing on a “Bill for an Act to amend the Federal Road Safety Commission Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004” at the House of Representatives wing of the National Assembly.
According to him, the pilot radio broadcasting, which will kick off in Abuja in five languages namely, English, Pidgin, Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba aims at advocacy to eradicate road crashes among Nigerian road users.
“The Federal Road Safety Corps will begin radio broadcasting in Abuja next week in English, Pidgin, Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba. We are involved in advocacy, education and enlightenment of Nigerians. We want to achieve our mission, which is a nation where road crashes will not result in fatalities,” Boboye told the lawmakers.
He said the Corps would henceforth impose stiffer sanctions, including a minimum fine of N50,000 on road traffick offenders, to serve as deterrent to road users who were often caught violating the same rule on which they had previously being fined.
Moreover, Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, represented by the Acting Permanent Secretary in the ministry Mrs. Anthonia Akpabio, said he was committed to making useful inputs into the improvement of road safety and management in Nigeria.
Earlier in a opening remarks, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon.Yakubu Dogara had stressed the need for improved road safety in Nigeria as a necessary step towards eradicating road crashes and saving lives.
On his own part,Chairman, House Committee on Federal Road Safety Commission, Hon.Abubakar Yinusa (APC, Yobe) expressed hope that an amended FRSC Act would guarantee a more effective and efficient Corps in line with current realities.
A member of the Committee, and Chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business Hon Edward Pwajok (APC, Plateau), pledged that the lawmakers would give the bill expeditious consideration given the critical importance of road safety to the socio-economic development of the country.
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