By Ohaeri Osondu Joseph, Fnipr, Fcai
In the words of Erediauwa, the 39th Oba of Benin, “Traditional rulers are the custodian of culture and traditional authority holders in the community in addition to playing vital roles in community development through attitudinal change of the indigenes of a particular community”.
With this in mind and the renewed efforts of the present dispensation of the FRSC to reverse the trend of road crashes and other traffic-related challenges, it was therefore a masterstroke for the Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed to take his renewed advocacy on road safety management to Traditional rulers during his on-going nationwide monitoring of traffic situation across the country tagged ‘Operation Zero Tolerance”.
It is also re-assuring to note that this initiative by the Corps Marshal was in partial fulfillment of his promises during his inaugural presentation on assumption of office in May this year. Aside from capacity building, digital transformation, staff welfare, discipline and enhanced patrols, the Corps Marshal stated emphatically that his administration will also be vigorously driven through strategic partnership and stakeholders’ engagement thus putting Royal Fathers on the driving seat of the Corps’ all-inclusive efforts to engender safer road culture in Nigeria.
Reiterating the FRSC management strong disposition to partner with Traditional Rulers across the country during a visit to His Imperial Majesty Oba (Dr) Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye III, the Olowo of Owo and Paramount Ruler of Owo Kingdom in Ondo State, the Corps Marshal stated that “By engaging traditional institutions, FRSC aims to leverage the respect and trust traditional leaders’ command to disseminate information about safe road practices, the dangers of speeding, and the necessity of vehicle maintenance.
Speaking further, he stated “This strategic partnership is part of a broader initiative by the FRSC to reduce road traffic crashes and fatalities. By involving traditional rulers, the Corps seeks to create a more inclusive approach to road safety, recognizing that community-driven efforts can significantly complement governmental policies and enforcement measures in additional to deepening our public enlightenment efforts down to the grassroots which can be undertaken effectively by our Royal fathers”
To further underscore the Corps’ genuine intent to make the highways safer, the Corps Marshal also called for the active participation of commuters and transport unions in preventing road crashes. He opined that passengers have the right to speak out against reckless driving and that transport unions must lead by example in preventing overloading and alcohol/drug-impaired driving. In his words “See Something and Say Something” thus re-jigging the consciousness of commuters on the need to perceive road safety as a collective responsibility.
While assuring the Corps Marshal of unflinching support from the Royal fathers, Oba Ogunoye stated that the traditional council of Owo would continue to sensitize the motoring public through town hall meetings and engagement with transport union Leaders. He also solicited for more patrol vehicles and ambulances to ensure smooth vehicular movement of vehicles though Owo which he described as a critical corridor that links the South West and South South as well as the North Central parts of the country.
The nationwide monitoring by the Corps Marshal which is targeted at ascertaining the traffic situation on critical corridors, commenced from Abuja -Lokoja expressway through Obajana to Owo, Ondo State and will transit to the Onitsha head bridge, Asaba-Benin-Lagos express way and other critical corridors of the nation’s highways.
It is therefore a welcome development as the FRSC under the watch of Corps Marshal Shehu Usman Mohammed has broken the barriers by integrating our Royal Fathers into the business of road safety management but it is still expected for the Corps’ management to initiate a national summit involving Traditional rulers drawn from across the country for purposeful deliberation with other relevant stakeholders in the transport sector to fashion out more practical strategies to further bring down crashes on our highways. All hands must be on deck.
*Ohaeri is a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations and a Deputy Corps Commander at the FRSC National Headquarters, Abuja.
