The Federal Government on Friday stressed the importance of investment in the country’s transport infrastructure, saying it plays a vital role in national development and growth.
A total of 130 newly acquired operational vehicles meant to assist the operations of the Federal Road Safety Corps in road safety management were inaugurated in Abuja.
The operational vehicles comprise of 97 patrol vehicles, 10 heavy duty tow trucks, 15 flatbed tow trucks, five ambulances, one fifty-six-seater staff bus as well as two coaster buses.
Speaking at the ceremony, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, said President Bola Tinubu was committed to the provision of transport infrastructure to enhance transformative growth.
Akume stated, “We have realised among other things that our resolve to make Nigeria a veritable home for investors will not be achieved if this administration does not make the management of safety on our roads a topmost priority.
“Let me use this opportunity to reiterate President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to the provision of transport infrastructure. Mr President believes that investment in transport infrastructure is a key determinant of performance in all other sectors since it plays a vital role in any nation’s development and growth process. Indeed, transport infrastructure encourages transformative economic impact.”
Akume said the vehicles would improve the quality of the road safety management approach.
He added, “The Federal Government is therefore in sync with this effort of FRSC and encourages other agencies of government at all levels to develop similar resourceful ways to improve their work processes in the cost-effective manner possible.”
The Corps Marshal, FRSC, Dauda Biu, pointed out that inadequate patrol, rescue and recovery logistics had been hindering the ability of the corps to perform optimally.
Biu noted, “Inadequate facilities continue to undermine our effective presence on the wide network of roads across the country and the promptness with which we attend to rescue and clearance of obstruction needs on our roads.”
He said the vehicles would surely boost the operational capability of the corps, adding, “Our corporate strategic goal for this year is to achieve a five per cent reduction in road traffic fatalities and traffic injuries in 2023 alone. The present leadership of the corps is committed to both development agendas and these vehicles will give a push to the existing efforts already in place to achieve this set goal.”
He said the new vehicles will be deployed for immediate use across the country.
He added that the Corps had established 102 formations consisting of 34 Area Commands, 56 Unit Commands, 10 Outposts and two Zebra Commands.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Capital Territory, Olusola Adesola, also said the commissioning was a sustained support of the federal government to meet the needs of the agency.
