The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Akwa Ibom State command, has renewed its resolve to ensure that lives and property are protected on the roads in the state, even as the federal government has lifted the ban earlier placed on interstate movement as part of measures to curtail the spread of COVID-19.
Speaking with journalists in Uyo, on Friday, the new state Sector Commander, Mr Ochi Oga, said the corps would not compromise enforcement of safety rules and compliance with the fifty per cent directive of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on Covid-19 for traffic regulations.
Oga, who resumed work about two weeks ago, said the command was working toward reducing road traffic crash to the barest minimum and ensuring that traffic regulations such as overloading of vehicles, over speeding and illegal parks mounted by tricycle (keke) operators were curbed in the state.
He said: “Since the easing of the lockdown, a lot has been done. We are in talks with the state transport ministry, and we have visited all the motor parks in the state to educate operators on the need to observe the NCDC (National Centre for Disease Control) traffic protocols.
“For us to open up the motor parks for use, we ensured that all the Covid-19 protocols are in place so that those travelling would be safe to travel.
“We’ve also emphasize the need for transporters to ensure that the fifty per cent directive of the PTF is obeyed. That is, where vehicles that were carrying 14 passengers before; we expect that this time around, they would reduce the number to seven. That’s the fifty per cent that is in place in all motor parks within the state.
“So, all measures are in place already to ensure that these are applied and complied with.
“We’ve stepped up deployment in terms of traffic personnel deployed to all routes within, and the ones coming into the state”.
On mobile courts, Oga said the command is working with the judiciary to address issues pertaining to compliance.
“We have a very good relationship with the judiciary in Akwa Ibom State, and they have agreed to also deploy magistrates to man our mobile courts to ensure that people comply with traffic rules and regulations”, Oga added.
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