As part of activities to mark the Eighth United Nations Global Road Safety Week (UNGRSW), the Gabriel Rotimi Aroge (GRA) Empowerment Foundation, in collaboration with the Lagos State Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), has renewed calls for safer roads, particularly for pedestrians and cyclists.
Held at the FRSC Command Headquarters in Ojodu Berger recently, the event brought together stakeholders from government, development foundations, and engineering circles to reflect on the theme: “Make Walking and Cycling Safe.”
Founder of the GRA Empowerment Foundation, Gabriel Rotimi Aroge, was represented by Programme Coordinator Mr. Ashiru Al-Mahroof, alongside Bode Adefolu, an engineer, Sustainable Energy Expert and Advisor, and Ajibola Alaga, Safety Advisor.
Aroge emphasised that road safety is a development imperative, intersecting with public health, education, environmental sustainability, and economic justice.
He highlighted the GRA’s Cycle 2 School Plus initiative, which provides free bicycles to underserved school children in Lagos State, promoting mobility, education, and climate action.
Aroge noted that the programme aligned with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Good Health and Well-being (SDG 3), Quality Education (SDG 4), Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8), and Climate Action (SDG 13).
He also commended the FRSC’s consistent support and professionalism, which helped boost the confidence of its United Kingdom (UK) partner, Re-Cycle (Bikes to Africa), pledging a donation of 1,000 bicycles for this initiative.
The Lagos FRSC Sector Commander, Corps Commander Kehinde Ganiyu Hamzat, responded on behalf of the Corps, stressing that all road users have a role in ensuring safety.
Hamzat urged drivers to yield to vulnerable road users and advocated for better infrastructure, including dedicated pedestrian walkways and cycling lanes.
Hamzat also referenced the first pillar of the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety, emphasizing the need for stronger institutional support and enforcement mechanisms at the state level.
He highlighted the potential of intelligent vehicles to reduce human errors and stressed the importance of visible road signs and markings, as well as road safety education.
The event moderator, Route Commander, Elizabeth Jaiyeola (SPEO) noted that the GRA team and FRSCN are already in partnership through previous collaborations.
She highlighted the availability of the Special Marshals programme, which enabled citizens to support the Corps in traffic management efforts.
She also introduced participants to the FRSCN mobile application available on the android platform, and explained that the tool allows for real-time engagement in road safety by offering features such as vehicle speed limit monitoring, emergency reporting, the National Vehicle Identification System, the National Driver’s License System, and the Road Safety Standardisation Scheme.
These digital resources, she said, enhance monitoring, enforcement, and feedback mechanisms in line with the Corps’ modern approach to safety and responsiveness.
The event featured an open dialogue centered on making cycling and walking safe, group photograph, and media interviews.
The FRSC invited the GRA Empowerment Foundation to collaborate in celebrating the upcoming World Bicycle Day celebration in June, which will include a community cycling rally, an interschool debate, and safety workshops for school children.
This event builds on an earlier celebration held in Epe on May 9, jointly organised by the GRA Foundation, the African Cycling Foundation (ACF), and the Epe Unit Command of FRSC.
With shared commitment and support from partners like Re-Cycle, the collaboration underscores the journey toward safer streets in Nigeria, emphasizing collective action, inclusive planning, and consistent advocacy to protect children and cyclists.
The GRA Empowerment Foundation’s initiative promotes entrepreneurship and local innovation, including bicycle maintenance skills training, local assembly and production of bicycles, and tech-enabled safety monitoring systems.
The GRA foundation is committed to building a safe, inclusive, and sustainable future for Nigerian children and communities.
The Foundation welcomes potential strategic partners to join our Cycle 2 School Plus programme and are open to all partnerships. With collective action and partnership, the GRA Empowerment Foundation and FRSC Lagos aim to create safer roads and mobility solutions for all, especially vulnerable road users.
The Eighth UN Global Road Safety Week in Lagos: Gabriel Rotimi Aroge (GRA) Empowerment Foundation team visit FRSC
