By Miriam Humbe
Following increasing cross-country vehicular movement as the Christmas festivities draw near, the FCT Emergency Management Department (FEMD) has flagged off “Operation Eagle Eye”.
Nkechi Isa, FEMD’s Head of Public Affairs disclosed this in a statement signed on Tuesday.
The campaign carried out in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps, (FRSC), is aimed at ensuring that motorists drive to stay safe during the holidays.
Flagging off the campaign at the Jabi Motor Park, the Acting Director General of FEMD, Engr Abdulrahman Mohammed, appealed to commercial motorists to avoid overloading, over speeding, flouting traffic rules, and reckless driving to reduce fatalities on our roads.
Mohammed said: “This December, a lot of people are traveling, so there is a lot of cross-country movement. Please do not drink and drive; we want everybody to stay alive”.
He also appealed to passengers to speak up when they observed something wrong.
The FEMD boss urged residents to use the 112 emergency toll-free number in the event of an emergency.
Also speaking, the Assistant Corps Commander, (FRSC) Zilani Ibrahim appealed to drivers not to take drugs to enhance their performance behind the steering wheel.
He also cautioned against storing petrol in the car, warning that it could combust leading to death.
Zilani said: “Major problems on our roads include overloading, which can cause death due to tire bursts.
“Another is night driving; it should be avoided because when there is an issue, getting help is difficult, added to prevailing insecurity”.
The Unit Commander also appealed to commercial motorists to take a rest every 4 hours of drive time and install speed limiters to automatically regulate and reduce the speed of their vehicles.
At the Area 1 motor Park, the Chairman NURTW, Garki Branch 1A, Ibrahim Jubril, informed that the Union had held a series of workshops on safe driving with various stakeholders.
He said: “On the issue of overloading, we have not been able to finally conclude on it.
“You will see a fourteen seater bus carrying eighteen passengers because of the cost of petrol.
“We believe that the introduction of Compressed Natural Gas, CNG will reduce operational costs by 75 percent, leading to a reduction in transport costs by January or February”.
Meanwhile, FEMD is also to take the campaign to other motor parks in the FCT.
