Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, has described public education on behavioural change, especially to drivers, as very importance to creating safer roads.
He made the declaration, on Thursday, while speaking at the public presentation of a book, “The Essentials of Road Safety Awareness in Nigeria”, written by Samson Dairo, Sector Head, FRSC Driver’s Licence Centre, Onireke, Ibadan, Oyo State.
Oyeyemi, represented by the state Commander of the FRSC, Oluwafemi Adekanye, said the Corps 2022 Corporate Strategic Goal has one of its objectives to create safer road users by tackling behavioural risk factors in driving with explicit focus on public education.
He said awareness is a pivotal measure and significant technique for achieving public enthusiasm and support towards attainment of a defined goal especially in enhancing road safety in Nigeria.
“It is in the light of this that FRSC has been demonstrating commitments towards sustaining public education and enlightenment as proactive and preventive measures to keep the road users up-to-date of developments in road safety administration and traffic management.
“It has been proven that educating road users can improve the knowledge about safer roads and safer vehicles,” the Corps Marshal said.
He added that “the growing problem of road traffic crashes requires practicable and sustainable efforts by everyone in arresting this ugly tide that has impacted negatively on family life.”
Oyeyemi said the book, “The Essentials of Road Safety Awareness in Nigeria”, is “a timely, relevant and commendable contribution as it attempts to address road traffic injury prevention through public awareness.
“This book is a timely relevant and commendable contribution as it attempts to address the problem of awareness towards the prevention of road traffic injury by providing guidance to road users.
“Such interventions are required to solve road traffic problems in Nigeria,” adding that the book will be of immeasurable value to drivers, other road users and policy makers.
He said the book will also help reinforce the strong conviction of the FRSC that public awareness can have a dramatic impact in road traffic injuries reduction.
In his welcome address, Oyo State Corps Commander, Oluwafemi Adekanye, said the book will compliment the multifaceted approach by FRSC in its efforts at increasing road safety awareness, vis-a-vis its aggressive campaign programmes.
“This book, titled “The Essentials of Road Safety Awareness in Nigeria”, is a masterpiece on road safety enlightenment and education.
“The author is highly qualified, experience, and professionally tilted toward the theory and practice of road safety administration and management,” Adekanye said.
The chairman of the occasion, Overseer Dr Ebenezer Okebukola, also said the book was timely, noting that road safety awareness concerned and involved every member of the society.
Okebukola, a former Oyo State Head of Service, urged road users to imbibe the spirit of an obedient driver to ensure personal safety and safety of other road users.
Director General, Operation Bursts (Oyo State), Mr James Akande, said such a book by Samson Dairo will go a long way to further enlighten the people on road safety awareness.
Quoting the World Health Organisation (WHO), he said road accident globally claims 1.3 millions annually with over 50 million people, especially young ones, suffer various forms of injuries caused by road accidents.
He said the developed world is not isolated from road accidents and therefore urged critical stakeholders in developing countries, especially Nigeria, to assiduously work on ensuring safety of the road.
The book reviewer, Professor Christopher Agulanna of the Department of Philosophy, University of Ibadan, described the author as a prolific writer who has written several other books.
He said the seven-chapter book dwelt extensively on the importance of the road and its value to both the users and humanity in general.
Agulanna said road is crucial to human survival, adding: “What can we possible do without the road? We move on the road – by foot or some form of conveyance, including on motor vehicle, cart, bicycle, or horse.”
He said road infrastructure is the most important of all public assets, even more than oil, noting that “roads make a crucial contribution to economic development and growth of a nation.
“Road infrastructure is the most important of all public assets. Roads have important social benefits. Roads provide access to employment, thereby helping to fight poverty.
Agulanna, a professor of Ethics and Social Philosophy, said the book is both apt and illustrative and recommended that it should not be left on the shelf, but should circulate everywhere, particularly among road users.
Other speakers at the event, including Deputy Commandant, Immigration, Yahaya Muhammed; Chairman, ATIBOL Nig Ltd, Mr Gabriel Adewunmi; Professor S. A. Balogun; and a former boss of the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO), Oyo State, Engineer Opatola, all commended the author for coming out with the book.
