The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Tuesday, said that 301 persons died in over 617 road crashes recorded in Ogun between January and October.
Mr Clement Oladele, FRSC Sector Commander in the state disclosed this during the 2019 “Ember Months” road safety campaign mega rally held at Asero park, Abeokuta.
The theme of the programme is : “Road Safety is a State of the Mind, Road Traffic Crash is Absence of Mind, Stay Alert, Stay Alive “.
Oladele explained that over 1, 723 accident victims were rescued to various hospitals across the state during the period under review .
The FRSC boss revealed that from January to October, road crashes increased by 43 per cent compared to 2018, saying that number of deaths also increased by 23 per cent.
“FRSC rescue teams have however , within the same period of January to October this year increased number of rescued victims from road traffic crashes from 1,529 last year to 1,793 this year.
“Our internal performance evaluations have caused the FRSC Ogun State Command to double her operations and activities to meet the rising rate of road crashes in the state ,” he said.
He noted that the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing in response to FRSC’s reports of road crashes at diversion areas along construction zones had agreed to remove all traffic diversions along the Lagos – Ibadan Expressway by December 15.
He stated that the command would carry out 24 -hour surveillance along the Lagos – Ibadan and other major highways in the State.
” We will also deploy 1,700 Regular and Special Marshals, 35 patrol vehicles, four life support ambulances, five patrol bikes and a heavy duty tow truck to support a robust ember months special patrol operations,” he said.
Delivering his speech, Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, commended the initiative of the FRSC for organising the programme.
Abiodun, represented by his Deputy, Noimot Salako – Oyedele, noted that the statistics on road traffic crashes recorded in the year was worrisome.
She noted that the ember months have become very notorious in the country, as this year’s statistic was worrisome, applauding the initiative of FRSC to combat the trend, which he said was timely.
The governor assured that FRSC of the state government’s continuous support, urging transportation unions to see the FRSC as partners in progress.
Abiodun assured that the state government would continue to fix bad roads across the state.
Present at the event were representatives of Nigerian Army, NSCDC, TRACE and members of transport unions in the state .
