Guinness, FRSC Begins 2017 Ember Safety Campaign

By Bennett  Oghifo

Guinness Nigeria Plc, in partnership with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), ON Wednesday, flagged off the “Ember months” Responsible Drinking Awareness Campaign, a special road safety programme to curb recklessness on the roads during the last quarter of the year through to the Christmas-New year festive season.

Both organisations have consolidated this partnership over the years, culminating in the yearly “Ember Months” programme, during which motorists and the public are enlightened about the dangers of drink-driving, especially during the last quarter of the year (Ember Months) when celebrations, festivities and human and vehicular traffic tend to be at their peak.

 The flag-off ceremony, which took place at the Guinness Ogba Brewery, Ikeja, Lagos, was attended by FRSC’s Lagos Sector Commander, Mr. Hyginus Omeje, Corp Public Education officer, Bisi Kazeem, who represented the Corp Marshall, some members of the Federal Road Safety Corps, and the motoring press.   Activities for this year’s programme include road shows, radio talk shows and for the first time, a training program for different categories of drivers.

In his address at the occasion, Mr. Peter Ndegwa, Managing Director/CEO, Guinness Nigeria Plc, disclosed that this year’s campaign would, for the first time, feature structured trainings for new driver’s license applicants and fleet drivers across the country.

 He noted that Guinness Nigeria Plc’s commitment to responsible drinking and enlightening the public about the values of responsible alcohol consumption remains unwavering.

 Ndegwa, therefore, appealed to alcohol beverage consumers, motorists and the general public to desist from mixing alcoholic consumption with driving.

 “At Guinness Nigeria, we are passionately committed to responsible drinking. We intend to continue to sensitize the general public all year round through different platforms and programmes on the dangers of drink driving,”noted Ndegwa.

As a corporate body, Guinness Nigeria also encourages its employees to volunteer to be Road Safety ambassadors – special marshals working with the FRSC teams to enforce road safety laws for the wellbeing and safety of all road users. These inspiring Guinness Nigeria employees are an embodiment of what the organisation and especially this partnership is all about – service for the greater good, the company said.

 

Corporate Relations Director, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mrs. Viola Graham-Douglas, who also addressed journalists at the flag-off ceremony said: “The partnership with FRSC on the Responsible Drinking Initiative has done well to impact motorists and commercial drivers positively since it commenced.”

 

According to Graham-Douglas, Guinness Nigeria is proud to be part of this campaign, which underlines its commitment to the well being of Nigerians and it’s consumers.

 

“Guinness is committed to responsible drinking and has consistently advised that motorists should not drive under the influence of alcohol as this may negatively influence the driver, as well as endanger passengers and other road users,” she stated.

 

On his part, Corps Commander, Lagos Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr. Hyginus Omeje, commended Guinness Nigeria Plc for its commitment to corporate social investment, especially in the areas of health and road safety.

 

 “Guinness and FRSC have forged a strong partnership designed to keep our roads safe. The major thrust of our partnership is to advise the motoring public on the need to ensure safe driving especially during the ember months. The basic requirements are for motorists to obey traffic laws, avoid overloading and avoid driving under the influence of alcohol,” Omeje said.

 

While appealing to other corporate organizations to emulate the example of Guinness Nigeria, the FRSC chief noted that it was the partnership with the company that gave birth to the project, adding that the donation of breathalyzers by the company had contributed immensely in reducing road accidents in the country.

 

He also stressed the need for more breathalyzers to enable the commission reach every nook and cranny of the country as “the ultimate goal of ensuring reduction of alcohol related road traffic crash will be achieved if all patrol vehicles are equipped with a breathalyzer.” He admonished the motoring public to obey all traffic laws and celebrate with moderation this yuletide season as road safety is a shared responsibility.