NAN-DS-12
Campaign
By Angela Atabo
Abuja, Nov.9, 2016 (NAN) The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) on Wednesday in Abuja cautioned motorists against driving under the influence of alcohol.
Mr Sunday Oghenekaro, Sector Commander, FRSC, FCT command, gave the warning at the “Don’t Drink and Drive’’ campaign at the Jabi motor park, Abuja.
Oghenekaro said drinking had been identified as being responsible for a great percentage of preventable road crashes around the world.
He said apart from the mechanical and environmental causes of crashes, the human factor was the most critical and exhibited in speed, drunk driving, indiscipline, poor vehicle maintenance and lack of concentration, among others.
“ Motorists in order to ensure personal safety and safety of other road users must refrain from the listed behaviours to avoid crashes and its consequences.
“The Ember Months are here; volume of traffic is increasing and the weather conditions are also to be considered as the harmattan with its poor visibility due to haze, is paramount,’’he said.
The Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, said the commission had been collaborating with the Nigerian Breweries in creating road safety awareness against drunk driving.
Oyeyemi, who was represented by Mr Kingsley Agomoh, FRSC Zonal Commanding Officer, said that the campaign was deliberately structured into the Ember Months due to increased festivities during the period in order to curb crashes.
He said the collaboration was necessary because safety was not a one man’s business.
Mr Nico Vervelde, Managing Director, Nigerian Breweries PLC, said the campaign was an important part of the company’s sustainability agenda tagged: “Brewing a Better World”.
Represented by Ms Adeola Odunaiya, Government Affairs Manager, Vervelde said that the strategy aided the company to identify ways to contribute positively to the society as a way of giving back to the society.
Mr Ibrahim Gaji ,Deputy State Chairman, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), appealed to the FRSC to extend the campaign to other parts of the country.
Gaji also urged the Nigerian Breweries to, like tobacco companies, inscribe warnings on their products to caution consumers on the dangers of consuming alcohol. (NAN)
ATAB/JPE/AMY
Edited by Joseph Edeh and Abdullahi Yusuf
================