Soyinka Calls For Establishment Of Road Safety Clubs In Schools

NOBEL laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, has called on the management of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to form road safety clubs in secondary schools across the country as a way of enhancing the activities of the Corps. Soyinka was the pioneer chairman of the FRSC when it was established about 30 years.

He made this call yesterday at Asero Motor Park, Abeokuta, Ogun State during the road safety advocacy mega rally with the theme: ‘Towards an enduring safe road culture in Nigeria.’

Soyinka, who said the FRSC had been repositioned over the years for effective performance, noted that there was the need for the agency to reach out to students in secondary schools to imbibe road safety culture, “just as there were Press Clubs”. He said: “I must commend the Corps for their commitment to duty.

It must be stressed that they had repositioned the agency for better performance. I want to recommend that the FRSC should ensure Road Safety Clubs are formed in secondary schools, just as there are Press Clubs in these schools.

The FRSC is the preventive medicine against accident on our roads.” The Corps Marshall, FRSC, Mr. Boboye Oyeyemi, said the programme was part of the agency’s three-pronged strategy of advocacy, education and enlightenment, towards reducing accidents on the roads.

He said the agency would continue to engage the drivers and other stakeholders in other parts of the state, listing Ijebu Ode, Sagamu, and Ilaro, among others. According to him, “We believe in advocacy, education and enlightenment. This means we will constantly engage the drivers, and other stakeholders in this kind of programme.”

Oyeyemi, who warned the drivers against overloading their vehicles, and using of telephone while driving, added that they must not drink and drive and they should put their vehicles in proper shape before embarking on a trip.

The state sector commander, FRSC, Mr. Adetunji Adegoke disclosed that improved stakeholders’ consultation and road use education were part of its corporate strategic goals for 2015.