The one day programme on Rivers State Road Safety Stakeholders forum organized by the ministry of Transport and Shell Development Company has been described as timely.
The programme which took place at Hotel Presidential, Royal Banquet Hall, Port Harcourt was held on May 8, 2012.
Speaking to journalists shortly after the programme, the Representative of the chairman, local government service commission, Chief Hon. Azubuike Emerukini, Mr. Smith Sunny Nwiyor, commended the programme put together by Shell and the ministry of Transport, saying the idea is a lofty one that will reduce the number of deaths on our roads in Rivers State.
He said most times it is the carelessness of the road users that leads to accidents, while suggesting that the stakeholders meeting should be spread to the 23 local government areas in the state, since they form the percentage of the road users.
Mr. Smith, a member of the local government service commission, said drivers should be conscious at all times as the state government have provided the enabling environment such as good roads and the formation of some agencies like Road Safety, Timariv and the Police to compliment and reduce accidents on our roads.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, represented by the secretary to the state government, Mr. George Feyii, appreciated the efforts of Shell in sponsoring the programme and called on others to emulate them.
The governor’s representative said most times man hours are lost due to traffic jam on our roads resulting to billions of naira. The secretary to the state government said the ban of Okada by the Amaechi’s administration was one of the best ideas which have reduced the rate of accidents and victims of motorcycle riders.
He however mentioned that the ban on keke-napep is still in place as it has caused some nuisance within the city.
George Feyii also mentioned some of the major decisions taken by government to unlock the roads for free flow of traffic in Rivers State, such as the construction of a link road from Odili road to Akpajo, another major road from the international airport to Aba road and to Onne road.
He said government is considering the completion of all the terminals and will devote the resources required for the monorail.
In his welcome address, the commissioner for transport, Hon. George Tolofari, said the stakeholders forum is an intervention by the ministry for proper driving culture on our roads and it is part of our responsibility to join the crusade to drive the process for a meaningful change.
He identified bad driving habit and lack of safety on the part of the drivers as a major challenge.
In his remark, the chairman, Shell Companies in Nigeria/MD SPDC, Mr. Mutu Sunmonu said road safety is there priority as a company policy which also depends largely on the size of their operation.
The Shell MD said a road safety culture was needed, including a sheer responsibility and changes in safety practice for social investment. He said public awareness through the media is key because the loss of lives to family is unquantifiable.
There were presentations from Tima-Riv, Nigeria Road Safety partnership and presentation by Global Road Safety partnership. Some participants attributed the major cause of road accidents in the state to bad roads, delay in road construction and pot holes. ###
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