The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) is making a strong appeal to the Nigerian public to prioritize adherence to traffic laws and regulations, citing a disturbing rise in road crashes and fatalities across the nation.
FRSC Spokesman, Olusegun Ogungbemide, delivered the message Thursday in Abuja, emphasizing that public cooperation is paramount to fostering a safe and secure environment for all road users.
Ogungbemide expressed deep concern over the escalating number of casualties, attributing the crisis to widespread impunity and blatant disregard for established traffic laws. He revealed that the FRSC has documented a high incidence of accidents stemming from reckless driving, overloading of vehicles, and unsafe “mix loading” practices.
“Advanced countries being celebrated for their development didn’t just get to where they are without the support of the public,” Ogungbemide stated. He highlighted the importance of replicating the robust systems and strict enforcement found in developed nations within Nigeria, calling for a national commitment to traffic law compliance.
“Any society where the laws prevail is with the support of the general public, because when the laws are there and they are not being complied with, we have a chaotic situation where there are no rules. We need the support of the members of the public to do the right thing. It brings about harmony in the system and security and safety for all,” he added.
The FRSC spokesman underscored that compliance with traffic laws is a critical component in preventing accidents and saving lives, emphasizing that these regulations are designed to ensure harmony, security, and safety for everyone.
“On an annual basis, we lose lots of people that hitherto would have been saved if we did the right thing as members of the public,” he lamented.
Ogungbemide specifically cautioned against the dangers of “mix loading” and overloading, which significantly increase the risk of crashes and potential fatalities.
“The laws are there; let us take our time to comply with them and not to shortchange them. Lives are very precious, no matter how cheap we think it is.”
He further observed the disparity in behavior between Nigerians adhering to traffic laws abroad and their lax attitude towards the same laws at home.
“When we go out there, we abide by their laws, but when we come back here, it becomes all commerce and affairs. We treat our laws with impunity, and that’s why we have a high rate of casualties we are experiencing on our highways,” he explained.
Despite the challenges, Ogungbemide reaffirmed the FRSC’s commitment to rigorously enforcing traffic laws and regulations, urging the public to cooperate fully with its personnel. He concluded with a passionate appeal for public support, emphasizing that collective effort is essential for the FRSC to achieve its critical goal of reducing road crashes and saving lives on Nigerian roads.
He implored, “Let’s try as much as we can to abide by the laws to do the right thing so that all those western countries we envy, we can replicate the same thing here.”
