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By Akanji Alowolodu, Bauchi
It has been observed that 80 percent of the economy activities of Nigeria is running on roads the more reason lives are being lost on a daily basis through fatal crashes.
The observation was made by the Sector Commander, Bauchi Sector Command of the Federal Roads Safety Corps (FRSC), Yusuf Abdullahi while speaking at the end of the year 2022 Durbar held at Sector Command headquarters, Bauchi.
According to him, “At anytime, whenever I find myself speaking on the situation, I always say it loud and clear, that, any country particularly in Africa and Sub-Sahara Africa, the most progressed and strong economy is not run on the road, but here, transport must be a priority of that particular country including Nigeria.
“Why am I saying this, today, you will discover that about 80% of Nigeria’s economy run on the roads unlike other developed countries where you have functional rail transport services, water transport system and air transport system and everybody can afford it,” he stressed.
He however lamented that,”but today in Nigeria, the best means of transportation and the easiest means, is public transport through the roads. And for that, when you look at such types of country, you will believe that we need to do more if we must keep the country’s roads safe, we really need to do more.”
On the reason for the Durbar, he explained that,”We are here today to obey the order from the Headquarters by the Corps Marshall, Dauda Aliyu Biu, to say thank you for a wonderful job done in 2022.”
“I request that we continue to pray for the new Corps Marshall and the Corps itself as well as the entire Nigeria so that we can all together take the Corps to the promised land,” he added.
According to him, “and it is in view of that, we have to assess how far we have gone from January to December 2022, to say yes, we have done well and say thank you to the personnel who have taken the Corps to where we are today.”
Yusuf Abdullahi added that, “As the Corps appreciate what you have done so far, you have done so much and the Corps is appreciative of your efforts. You have to do more than what you did in 2022.”
He explained that, “I grew up in the sports circle and, in the industry, you are always told that your planning, your activities can take you to the peak but at the same time, when you get to the peak, how do you sustain it, because, in some cases sustainance becomes more challenging at the peak.
“Why is it so, the strategies to get to the peak must have taken more sophisticated way than what you think of, you must plan not to be dislodged once you get there,” he added.
According to him, “Today, the Corps Marshall is saying that he has seen your hard-working and your focus and wants you to do more by looking at the rate of road crashes which is always the yardstick of assessment. You must tell the world and present a laudable statistics to show the world that yes, you are moving forward.
“We should know that we have a serious challenge ahead of us in 2023 which is an election year therefore putting much demands on our shoulders, we must therefore be up and running, ready to do more, “he concluded .
The annual Durbar during which all immunity are set aside and every personnel becomes equal was an avenue of relaxation and merry making as well as for stocktaking to plan for the next year.
During the celebration, personnel who distinguished themselves were recognised and given letters of commendation to serve as morale booster for others in the new year 2023.
