Lalong urges Nigerians to curb road crashes by imbibing road safety culture
Plateau State Governor Simon Bako Lalong has urged Nigerians to imbibe road safety culture in order to curb road crashes and halt needless deaths on the roads.
The Governor gave the charge in Abuja on Thursday at the 10th anniversary of Kwapda’as Road Safety Demand (KRSD) Foundation a nonprofit organisation founded by the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem in honour of her late son, Prince Kwapda’as Rangna’an Dongban.
Governor Lalong commended the President of the Court of Appeal for establishing the Foundation, and using the tragic death of her son in a motor accident, to raise awareness and education to halt further needless deaths on Nigerian roads.
He said the fact that many people were on the road without the requisite knowledge and experience of driving is very disturbing as many accidents occur because of recklessness and ignorance.
Time he said had come when people must be conscious of the rules of safe driving and also promote it whether they are driving or not.
He stated that Plateau State had continued to work towards improving the safety and efficiency of public transport which is a major economic driver.
A bill for the establishment of a transport management commission he said has been forwarded by the Plateau State Executive Council to the House of Assembly for legislative action.
Founder of KRSD Foundation, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem said for the past ten years, the foundation had made efforts to bring to the fore the needless sufferings and deaths that are foisted on innocent citizens due to the careless actions of drivers who either refuse to obey traffic regulations or fail to take care of their automobiles.
She said her story had served as a pivot for further highlighting the issue of road safety culture among Nigerians through the many programmes and engagements that have been organised at different levels.
Justice Dongban-Mensem thanked Governor Lalong and other stakeholders in and outside the country for supporting the foundation to carry out its vision for a more safe and secure road transportation.
FCT Minister Mohammed Bello, Transport Minister Rotimi Amaechi, and other speakers advocated for stiffer penalties in the enforcement of road traffic rules and regulations.
A statement on Thursday by Dr. Makut Simon Macham, Director of Press & Public Affairs to the Governor, said the highpoint of the event was the presentation of awards and the decoration of KRSD, Patrons and Special KRSD Marshals, which included the governor.
