NAN-DS-20
Unit
By Muhammad Nasir Bashir
Ringim (Jigawa), Jan. 12, 2016 (NAN) The Emir of Ringim, Jigawa, Alhaji Sayyadi Mahmud, has expressed delight over plans by the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) to establish a Unit Command in the area.
Mahmud made the remarks when Mr Angus Ibezim, the FRSC Sector Commander in the state, visited him on Thursday in Ringim.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ibezim had earlier told the emir that the decision was informed by the number of deaths being recorded in the area as a result of road crashes.
“We want to establish a unit here, but we want to talk to the state government to assist us in this regard.
“Establishing a unit will help us to check speeding, overloading and reckless driving among motorists along major roads in this Emirate,” he said.
Ibezim also requested the emir to assist in asking communities under the emirate council that installed wood logs to serve as speed breakers to remove them.
According to him, such illegally installed speed breakers often caused accidents.
“I want to request the emir to ask communities that are putting log of woods to hold vehicles because of speeding to remove such.
“The corps asked us to talk to you in this regard, being a father to all,” he pleaded.
The sector commander further assured that the command had concluded arrangements to select and train between 10 and 20 youths in the communities on how to handle road crashes and other emergency situations.
“We are ready to discuss with the communities under your emirate where we will select between 10 to 20 youths to train them on how to control speeding vehicles.
“We will also train them on how to handle road crashes and other emergency situations.
“They will work on shift so that they will be able to render assistance pending the establishment of a unit in the area.
“We are therefore, soliciting the support and cooperation of His Highness in this regard,” Ibezim said.
Ibezim further identified that the absence of FRSC personnel in the area was one of the factors responsible for rampant road crashes there.
He pointed out that establishing the unit would enable the corps to educate and sensitise all road users in the emirate, thereby reducing the rate of road accidents in the area.
According to him, the gesture is part of the command’s efforts to respond swiftly in case of road crashes and other emergency situations in the area.
The Emir, who welcomed the development, pointed out that it would go along way in reducing the rate of accidents in the area.
He, however, blamed drivers for not slowing down or reducing their speed while approaching such communities that are closer to roads.
Mahmud, therefore, promised to make the state government see the need to assist the FRSC to establish the unit.
“On behalf of myself and the people of Ringim emirate, I promise you that I will talk to the governor personally.
“But I urge you to make a formal request to the government so that I will follow it up on your behalf.
“It is a good development as it will add to the number of the federal agencies we have in the Emirate,” Mahmud said. (NAN)
MNB/JEO/AMY
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Edited by Jane-Frances Oraka/Abdullahi Yusuf