The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has begun a two-day capacity building workshop for its personnel to enhance national security.
The Corps Marshal, FRSC, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, said on Tuesday in Abuja, that the workshop was conceived considering the magnitude of losses in both human and material resources on the roads.
Oyeyemi unveiled the National Road Safety Strategy (NRSS II 2021-2030).
He said the workshop was aimed at strengthening the capacities of Sector Commanders and FRSC Management on the NRSS institutional arrangement and prospects of its implementation.
This, he said, was with a view to developing frameworks for tactical level engagement of stakeholders and all levels of government in Nigeria.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop had the theme: “NRSS II: 2021-2030, A Fulcrum for Road Safety Development and Enhancement of National Security in Nigeria.”
The FRSC boss said the NRSS II 2021-2030 was a strategy document designed to make citizens, governments and stakeholders take ownership of the processes and interventions directed at creating a safe motoring environment.
“As you may be aware, the NRSS II 2021-2030 is the second edition of an action plan to enhance road safety in Nigeria and align our safety management approach with global best practices.
“Following the expiration of the maiden edition (NRSS:2014-2018), the need for a review became expedient to consolidate the gains of the first edition.
“And to also chart a way forward towards attaining the goals of road safety management in Nigeria by 2030.
“In essence, it focuses on inculcating the value of collective responsibility in the approach to road safety management,” he said.
Oyeyemi said it was expected that the workshop would provide a veritable opportunity to objectively evaluate road safety situation in the country.
He said the FRSC had built and aligned its internal processes with global standards and best practices in line with the aspirations of the corps to evolve into a world-class organisation.
He noted that road safety had evolved over the years into a multi-disciplinary concept that found expressions in all facets of human undertakings.
He also noted that transportation was the hub that drove economic activities.
“The economies of nations certainly draw from the innumerable benefits of safe roads.
“In Nigeria, the dependence on road transportation makes it inevitable for economic and budgetary planning to take cognisance of the need for a safe motoring environment.
“This is more so, since the impact of crashes and the associated fatalities affect several segments of national life,” he said.
The FRSC boss urged participants to take advantage of the opportunity and take ownership of the document by understanding its content for the purpose of implementation.
The Minister of State for Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mr Clement Agba, said the NRSS II represented the commitment of the present administration to set out natural road safety goals.
Agba was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and National Planning, Mrs Olusola Idowu.
He noted that the NRSS II was a long term plan for road safety in Nigeria, saying it was basically to strengthen the statistical knowledge on road safety management. (NAN)
