Fides Media Living the Faith
By Jude Atupulazi
Ahead of the busy yuletide period in Anambra, the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, Anambra State Command, is to deploy 1, 100 personnel to man the roads to ensure free traffic flow across the state. The State Sector Commander of the commission, Mr. Adeoye Irelewuyi, disclosed this in a press statement made available to Fides in which he assured of the command’s preparedness to live up to expectations during the period.
Irelewuyi, in the statement signed on his behalf by DRC Margaret Onabe, Acting Sector Pubic Education Officer, said that about 500 regular marshals and 600 special marshals had been scheduled to patrol across the state during the period, adding that patrol hours had been moved beyond 6pm to accommodate road users coming in or leaving the state at night.
‘The command has begun Ember Month sensitization and Awareness Campaign on road safety tips. We’re liaising with relevant government agencies to ensure some identified spots on the roads are fixed to avert traffic gridlocks and mishaps,’ Irelewuyi stated.
While reassuring road users of their safety during the Christmas season, the FRSC boss called for caution at all times, pledging fast actions on hauling off heavy duty vehicles involved in accidents off the roads.
He also warned that vehicles conveying hazardous and inflammable substances must have their products transloaded before they could be towed away.
The FRSC boss said the measures became necessary in view of the usual heavy traffic volume at this time of the year in these parts; even as he disclosed that the command was liaising with stakeholders on best ways to prevent gridlocks, which, he said, included removing broken down vehicles from the roads.
Irelewuyi equally disclosed that the state government had constituted a joint committee of all traffic agencies in the state and that FRSC was working in collaboration with them to map out strategies for traffic control at critical points.
He said the Federal Road Safety Commission had identified the critical areas which he listed to include Bridge Head Onitsha, Owerri Road, Umunze and some other places he described as flashpoints, adding that the command would deploy about 500 regular marshals and about 600 special marshals, together with other logistics, to ensure that the critical flashpoints were adequately manned.
The Sector Commander also disclosed that the command had extended its operational hours into the nights, especially in urban areas, to ensure free flow of traffic during the night.
Irelewuyi said security agencies were not left out in their plans as they would also be on hand to provide protection for traffic officials during their operations, stressing that FRSC had the assurance and support of the Anambra State Government to provide some of its tow trucks to remove obstructions when necessary.
The decision of the FRSC to extend their work hours into the night will no doubt come as a relief to road users as traffic gridlocks in the night are believed to be caused by the absence of officers of the FRSC at that time.