Yuletide: Let passengers get home safely, FRSC boss, Oyeyemi, tells drivers

Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, the Corps Marshal, Federal Roads Safety Corps (FRSC), on Monday urged commercial drivers to endeavour to make their passengers arrive their destinations safely as they travel in the festive period.

Oyeyemi said a lot of Nigerian citizens rely on public transportation and the drivers must be cautious, to let everybody get home safely.

The corps marshal spoke during the Ember Months “Responsible Drinking Awareness Programme” sponsored by Guinness Nigeria Plc, at Ojota Park Lagos.

He said that the corps needed the support and cooperation of the drivers to achieve zero death during the Yuletide.

“We need the support of the public, the commercial drivers and convoy drivers, for us to record hitch-free end of the year patrol activities.

“The roads have been rehabilitated and government is trying its best; it behoves the public to reciprocate and comply with the traffic rules and regulations.

“FRSC has been saying it often and often; don’t overload your vehicle, and don’t drink under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

“Avoid lane violations, keep to your lane. The weather is hot: it’s about 37°C now; if you overload your vehicle with high pressure, the tyre will burst with harsh weather,” he said.

Oyeyemi urged transport unions like National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) to ensure their members comply with highway traffic rules.

Mr Peter Ndegwa, the Managing Director, Guinness Nigeria Plc, in his remarks, said that the objective of the campaign was to promote safety on the roads by encouraging culture of not drinking and driving.

Ndegwa said that the company had partnered FRSC since 2014, adding that the programme had continued to strengthen the relationship between them.

According to him, it has been recorded that most of the crashes that occur during the ember months are directly and indirectly related to speeding and drunk driving.

He appealed to motorists to avoid drinking of alcohol whenever they want to drive.

The general manager said that the company would continue to sensitise the public through different platforms on the dangers of drunk driving.