The Federal Road Safety Corps has called on well-meaning Nigerians and organizations to support the agency especially in the area of funding.
This, according to the agency, will go a long way in improving its services and ensuring that its marshals adequately serve the public.
The Lagos Sector Commander of the corps, Mr. Hyginus Omeje, stated this on Tuesday when his team paid a courtesy visit to the Head office of Punch Nigeria Limited in Ogun State.
He said presently, the agency could not perform to its full capacity owing to the dearth of funds, adding that as a government parastatal, it was difficult to source all the funds it required to function well.
He said, “It is true that no government parastatal is adequately funded, and the FRSC is no different from this. I can tell you that we do not have a single tow truck in Lagos State. If we had more funds, it would have been easier; we need heavy duty tow trucks as well as ambulances around the Lagos toll gate area, Lekki, and Iba to serve various environs. The only ambulance in the Ojota area has broken down.
“If we wait for the government to provide all the funding for these things, we know that it would be a tall order, but we are looking at a situation where organisations will willingly partner the agency to ensure a smooth running of our activities.
“If you look at other countries, you’ll see a situation that people are beginning to change their approach towards road safety, we are advocating that Nigerians should not leave the issue of funding the agency to the government alone. We call on corporate bodies and public spirited individuals to see road safety as ‘our own’ and not a government thing.”
He gave the three core areas of his tenure as aggressive public enlightenment, strict enforcement of traffic rules and regulations and capacity building, adding that the FRSC officials would be involved in a number of workshops and seminars to train workers on how to be courteous to road users.
Omeje also disclosed plans by the FRSC to set up more outlets to ensure that Lagosians have easier experiences while trying to obtain their driving licences.
He said, “Presently, we have outlets in Ikeja, Ikorodu, Etiosa, Badagry, Agege, Surulere, Igando, Ojo, Apapa. We have 12 centres spread across Lagos with 18 work stations, and we plan to get another six centres within the next few weeks.
