By Ibironke Ariyo
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says it is intensifying its partnership with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) to tackle Road Traffic Crashes (RTCs) across the 36 states and the FCT.
The Corps Marshal, FRSC, Malam Shehu Mohammed said this when he led his management team on a courtesy visit to NAN headquarters on Wednesday in Abuja.
Mohammed said that the aim of the visit was to harness the existing collaboration between the two agencies for effective road traffic management across the country.
He said that the partnership also aimed to leverage NAN’s wide reach to educate and enlighten the public on road safety measures, thereby reducing the incidence of RTCs.
He also said that the target was to reduce road crashes to the barest minimum in the country while urging the agency to support the Corps in that direction.
The FRSC boss noted that despite a 12.5 percent reduction in road crashes in the first half of 2023, with over 5,000 RTCs, 16,000 injuries, and close to 3,000 deaths, there was a need to shift emphasis from drivers to commuters.
He commended NAN’s wide reach and influence, saying that partnering with the agency would amplify the FRSC’s public enlightenment and education efforts.
“We have realised that commuters have a crucial role to play in reducing road crashes. They should have a say in who drives them and ensure that drivers adhere to safety measures.
“With this, we felt the emphasis should not just be on drivers and we should also go to commuters to assist us. Passengers must have a say on who drives them and who controls them to reach their destination.
“We believe that, if we include commuters in our crusade, sensitisation, enlightenment and education together with NAN, the whole country have the news already.
” And that is why we are here to collaborate so that together, we can be able to reduce RTCs and the attendant fatalities that are claiming the lives and property of the citizens of Nigeria, “he said.
The FRSC Corps Marshal, further expressed confidence that the collaboration would yield positive results, stressing that the FRSC does not need to engage other media outlets if it had NAN’s support.
Speaking further, the FRSC boss announced that the Corps would be launching a phone application that would, ahead, show black spots and alert crash portions while traveling on highways on September 5.
Mohammed said the phone application would be a one-stop shop where all FRSC products and directives could easily be accessed.
“The app will show and give significant information about road black spots and alert of any crash spot ahead while traveling.
“The app system will inform and remind the users of due dates to renew their driver’s license, service their vehicles, and other notable information,” he said.
Responding, NAN Managing Director, Mr Ali Muhammed Ali, congratulated Mohammed on his well-deserved appointment as the Corps Marshal of the FRSC.
Ali assured that NAN would utilise its media platforms to promote road safety awareness, stressing that the agency was committed to supporting the FRSC’s efforts to save lives and property on Nigerian roads.
He reiterated the agency’s commitment to reporting Africa and Nigeria to the rest of the world adding that NAN was the largest news agency on the continent.
“We have offices in all 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory, and foreign offices, and we are working to re-establish NAN presence, especially in Europe.
“We pride ourselves on being the premier news source on Nigeria, and by extension, Africa. When you engage with NAN, you reach the entire nation,” he said.
“NAN and FRSC have enjoyed a long-standing and fruitful partnership over the years. We appreciate the fact that your radio content sources news from NAN, and we thank you for your patronage.
“As you assume leadership, we look forward to an even stronger collaboration, hoping that our relationship will accelerate to greater heights, but with caution and safety, just as you would advise against reckless driving,” he said.
The NAN MD disclosed plans to launch vernacular news websites in Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba languages to take the news to the grassroots and cater to the diverse linguistic needs of Nigerians.
“This initiative is part of our efforts to democratise access to information, especially in the digital era, where internet penetration is high.
“Our vernacular sites will go live soon, ensuring that people at the bottom of the social ladder receive news in their preferred language,” he said.
NAN reports that President Bola Tinubu recently approved the appointment of Mohammed as the new FRSC Corps Marshal and Chief Executive Officer.
Mohammed was appointed as the 8th Corps Marshal, 3rd to be appointed from the rank, and 1st to be appointed as Assistant Corps Marshal (ACM).
