Sierra Leone to adopt FRSC road safety strategies

By The Citizen

The Head of Sierra Leone Transport Authority, Dr Sarah Bendu, on Saturday said her country would replicate the Federal Road Safety Commission's (FRSC) strategies on effective road traffic management in Nigeria.

At the commission's monthly jogging: 'Walking and jogging for productive population'', Bendu said her country would understudy the FRSC and adopt its strategies on road safety management.

'Along the West Africa region, we find out that when it comes to road safety, the FRSC is doing well.

'We want to replicate what we have seen here in our country; the FRSC has been in existence for long but Sierra Leone is just coming up,'' Bendu, a special guest at the occasion, said.

Bendu, also called for effective collaboration among the West African countries on road safety measures, noting that the UN report indicated that 98 per cent of global road traffic accidents occurred in Africa.

She also called for concerted efforts to reduce accidents by 50 per cent in 2020 in line with the UN global action plan.

'When we talk about West Africa Road Safety Commission, we really want to see how best West Africa can be a force to reckon with when it comes to safety.

'Although the global report says 98 per cent of road accidents occurred in Africa, we want to change that trend come 2020 in line with the UN global action plan.''

Mr Festus Odimegwu, the Chairman, National Population Commission, in his message to the participants, urged the Federal Government to make regular exercise compulsory for all ministries, departments and agencies.

Represented by Alhaji Zakari Umar, the Chairman, Population Management Committee, Odimegwu noted that exercise was a veritable tool for national development in terms of health and productivity.

'Empirical evidence has shown that regular physical activities have long been used in the treatment and rehabilitation of certain injuries and ailments, the cost-effective methods of improving public health,'' he said.

Mr Osita Chidoka, the Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of the FRSC, noted that the exercise was necessary to keep the body fit and make people productive. (NAN)