One quarter of the total number of cars in Nigeria are found in Lagos, according Michael Olapade, acting Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC.
Olapade, who led a team of FRSC officials to the Lagos State House of Assembly further stressed that the number of deaths recorded daily on highways through road accidents was far more than the number of deaths from the dreaded Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, AIDS.
“The number of these units are not enough to complement the efforts of other traffic agencies like LASTMA and VIO,” he said.
Olapade, who recalled the death of Minister of State for Labour and Employment, James Ocholi, his wife and son following an auto crash along Abuja-Kaduna road, noted: “the lives of our youth are being lost on daily basis.
“Many people talk of AIDS as most deadly, FRSC do not believe this when you talk of number deaths, road accidents are higher.”
“We want to partner with all the people that are important to the people so that we will save lives for Nigeria to be better.”
He said the collaboration of the FRSC with agencies of the state government had helped to increase the revenue of the state generated from defaulting motorists.
While appealing for more support from the House, Olapade stated that the number of units and equipment for the organisation are inadequate.
He pointed out that the institution in Lagos has 15 units and one sector command.
While assuring of the institution’s readiness to collaborate with the state government, Olapade said that the organization has plans to decorate more members of the House as special marshals.
In his reaction, the Speaker said the House appreciates the good job so far carried out by the men of the FRSC.
He however urged for efforts to curtail the activities of bad eggs in the organisation who extort money from motorists.
“You should monitor the activities of your men, there are roads that can’t be categorized as either federal or state road some of your men do go to extort money from motorists,” Obasa said urging the institution to intensify efforts on enlightenment and campaigns against road accidents.
“We will continue to support you and give our assistance. It is our duty to protect lives of the people, we need organizations like yours saddle with the responsibility of protecting people,” he said.
