By Asuquo Cletus
The Federal Road Safety Corps has sought the partnership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists to promote road safety in Cross River State.
The Sector Commander of the FRSC in Cross River, CC Joseph W Toby, made the call during a courtesy visit to the NUJ chairman comrade Archibong Bassey at the Ernest Bassey Press center in Calabar.
Toby emphasized the importance of the media in disseminating accurate information to the public, particularly on road safety issues.
He highlighted the FRSC’s efforts to reduce road crashes, including the clampdown on fake and illegal number plates and the promotion of the FRSC mobile app.
“It is my pleasure today to meet with you and your members. Today, no doubt will mark a new phase in the synergistic relationship between the FRSC and the NUJ especially in Cross River State.
The FRSC is saddled with the responsibility of making the Nigeria roads safe for all road users. To achieve this mandate,the Corps has strategically engaged several tools to ensure successful delivery and implementation.
” These include but not limited to Enlightenment and Education to inform and sensitise the motoring public on traffic regulations, safe road use as well as programmes and policies of the Corps.
“Engineering this involves interaction with technological advances to obtain,analyse and use data as well enhance road safety initiatives and operations.
“Here road audits are conducted, road traffic crashes are investigated and engineering advice provided to the relevant agencies of government for policy formulation and implementation.
“Enforcement this entails implementation of the provisions of traffic rules and regulations as contained in the FRSC establishment act 2007,the National Road Traffic Regulations (NRTR,2012) as amended and quality management system (QMS) standards to continually improve our operations.
In line with the foregoing,the FRSC high command led by the Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed FCA,CFFA,mni developed the 2025 corporate strategic goals for the Corps which among other things seeks to achieved a 10% reduction in Road Traffic Injuries and Fatalities. This ,the Corps intends to achieve using the six (6) policy thrust put forward by the Corps Marshal on assumption of office in May,2024 viz.
“Rejig and reposition operation strategies, Training and retraining of staff to align with realistic expectations, Strategic partnership
Digital transformation in operations, Discipline Welfare.
“This has resulted in improved productivity, conforming totally with the Renewed Hope agenda of the President and commander in chief of the Federal Republic, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and our amiable and indefatigable governor, the executive governor of Cross River State, His Excellency,Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu whose agenda of sweetness is evident across the state.”He said.
The sector commander appealed to the media to support the FRSC’s initiatives and help create awareness about road safety among the public.
“The role of the media cannot be over emphasised in the quest of the FRSC to successfully deliver on it’s mandate. This is is because the activities of the media,as coordinated by the NUJ has the power to reach more persons through print and electronic means,with the right information from the FRSC to eliminate issues related to misinformation. “-He added.
The NUJ chairman Archibong Bassey, assured the FRSC of the union’s support in promoting road safety through responsible reporting.
