95% of Road Accidents in S-W Happen on Lagos-Ibadan Road – FRSC

Oct 28, 2011 – 95% of Road Accidents in S-W Happen on Lagos-Ibadan Road – FRSC

278 lives were lost on the Ogun axis of the road between January and October 2011

The Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Zone 2, Danjuma Garba, on Thursday in Lagos, said that 95 percent of accidents in the South-West occur on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

Speaking at a sensitisation rally for drivers of articulated vehicles and tankers held at Kara, Ibafo, near Lagos, Garba blamed the accidents on the deplorable state of the road and requested urgent intervention from the Federal Government in repairing the road.

The rally was organised by the FRSC zone which comprises of Ogun and Lagos States.

Garba urged members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers and the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria to always drive with care.

“Our constitutional responsibility is to ensure compliance with the regulations by road users and free flow of traffic on our roads.
“We know the road is bad, but government in its magnanimity has awarded the contract for its reconstruction.
“We are tired of carrying dead bodies on this particular road, we urge you to cooperate with us to reduce accidents on the roads,” he said.

Garba said the FRSC launched the campaign ahead of the Eid-el-Kabir festival, to ensure accident-free journeys on the road.

“The Eid-el-Kabir is fast approaching and so also Christmas and New Year. We urge motorists and commercial vehicle drivers to join hands with the command to reduce carnage on our roads,” he said.

Seni Ogunyemi, Director of Operations, Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps, advised the drivers to obey traffic rules and regulations.

“You should observe road signs and other regulations at all times.
“This is the only way we can complement government’s efforts in reducing to the barest minimum the rate of accidents on our roads,” he said.

Ogunyemi disclosed that 278 lives were lost to accidents on the Ogun axis of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway between January and October this year.

A driver, Sheu Aliyu, lauded the FRSC for the sensitisation campaign, saying “it shows that the government cares for us”.

The leader of the Hausa Community in Ibafo, Alhaji Abdullahi Ibn-Abdullahi, thanked the FRSC for the campaign and promised full compliance by road users in the community.

“We want FRSC to increase its patrol on the expressway, especially at night to reduce accidents,” he said.