37 Gun Salute for Road Marshals

Six records broken. It was not in the English Premiership but in UEFA Champions League. During the 2003-4 season, the same team set another record by winning the Premiership without losing a match. Last week, Arsenal displayed a seven-star performance against PSV Eindhoven in the first leg of the Champions League last -16 clash in Eindhoven.

Seven goals to one was the scoreline. Even without a striker, Arsenal became the first team, to score seven goals away in a single Champions League knockout phase. They became the first side to have six different goal scorers in this stage away from home. Arsenal are also the quickest team to net five away goals too, with Trossard’s strike for 5-1 in the 48th minute. The team has now won five successive champions League games in the same tournament.

Finally, Nwaneri’s goal saw him become the third youngest goal scorer at age 17 years and 217days. The goal was set up by Myles Lewis-Skelly, another youngster, which meant that the the two English teens had combined for a Champions League goal for the first time in the competition history. The same team had set another record by winning the Premiership without losing a match.

Like Arsenal, the Federal Road Safety has its weaknesses, failures, threats, with numerous awards which testify of the strength and resilience of the Corps; Nigeria’s Lead Agency and World Bank Lead model Agency for sub-Saharan Africa among others. Like my Pastor, Yomi Otenaike once told us, nobody enlarges an ugly picture for display. It is always the best pictures that we single out for enlargement for the world to see.

Therefore, as we reflect on 37 years of policing our roads, I am elated to have been part of a crop of Nigerians described by Punch Newspaper in one of its editorials as ‘an assemblage of the best road safety experts in sub-Saharan Africa. Like the Punch editorial which captured our place in history, the editorial by THISDAY when we clocked 25 years, was the icing on the cake.

In that editorial, Government and Private sector investment were highlighted as key vehicles for greater success. Before I share the beautiful editorial, please hear the Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, acknowledge and express gratitude for the current level of private sector and government investment in the Corps.

He said this while celebrating the 37th Anniversary. During the celebration, the Corps Marshal singled out the Ford Foundation for its investment in Road Safety Post- crash care emergency care, donating 400,000 USD for training rescue officers. He also acknowledged the World Bank’s support through the provision of 10 million USD to enhance the FRSC fleet and Road Safety post-crash care centre, the Lions Club for pioneering the construction of Emergency roadside clinics, and Matrix Petroleum for building a roadside clinic for the Corps.

Aside from the private sector, government contributions were equally highlighted. The following were therefore singled out for praise; former Governor of Delta, His Excellency Ifeanyi Okowa for supporting the establishment of Marshal Inspectorate Training School, at Owa-Alero, His Excellency Sullivan Iheanacho, former Enugu State Governor for support in the establishment of FRSC Academy, Udi, as well Senator Barrister Soloman Bako Lalong, former Governor of Plateau State for his support in establishing FRSC Road Marshal Assistants Training School at Shendam, Plateau States

As we reflect on the road the Agency has traveled, greater investment is needed to drive road safety, which is highly capital-based, improve the Commission’s service delivery, and promote safer roads and fuller lives. That is the way to bridge the gaps acknowledged by the Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed.

Now, to THISDAY’s icing on the FRSC milestone; At 25, the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has made more than passing impact on the life of Nigerian road users. The commission’s campaigns have helped in reducing the carnage on our roads and have made travelling by road, especially during festive periods like Sallah and Christmas, less of a nightmare. So all factors considered, the investment has been worth it and the creation of the FRSC by the General Ibrahim Babangida regime can now easily be justified.

The FRSC institutional vision aimed at eradicating road traffic crashes and creating a safe motoring environment received great fillip under its current Corps Marshal, Mr Osita Chidoka. He has gone beyond routine administration to focus on the international profile of the agency, institutional capacity building and operational effectiveness.

Today we have a commission with globally acknowledged templates for measuring impact and service outcomes. This is no accident, but the result of a clear institutional focus on operations, people and processes.

Today, there is increased FRSC presence on the highways, with effective preventive patrols and prompt response to road crashes. The toll-free telephone number 122 for road traffic emergencies has created a seamless communication gateway between the Commission and the motoring public, shoring up early reportage of road crashes.

The implementation of international vehicle transit charges at selected Nigeria Border posts has also enhanced safety and co-ordination of trans-border movement. This is in addition to the “One Driver One Record” initiative, which allows for tracking and matching a driver with his driver licence, vehicle number plate, insurance and traffic offences in a single view. Meanwhile, the order and control in motor vehicle administration and vehicle insurance management from the FRSC have improved collaboration among security agencies.

The Commission has made great investments in human capital development and has used mostly modern, merit-based templates for staff recruitment. This has gone hand in hand with enhanced staff welfare and improved service delivery. Today we have a Nigerian road user that is better able to appreciate best global road safety practices; including the need for private sector and government involvement in road safety issues.

The editorial further noted that the on-going robust public advocacy on road crash reduction and intensive routine patrols are fully complemented by effective rescue services; with optimal utilisation of IT and re-alignment of operational strategies. The Commission also now has improved process that promote transportation safety regulation, through the Road Transport Safety Standardization Scheme (RTSSS). This scheme regulates fleet operators to promote safe travels.

The improved buy-in from fleet operators and enhanced safety standards has created better interface between road use managers and fleet owners.

While we commend the FRSC for its string of successes, beginning with the firm foundation laid by Prof. Wole Soyinka and Dr Olu Agunloye, and mindful of the fact that the Commission was able to convince the National Assembly and the general public on the need for the upgrade of the National Drivers Licence and Number Plates, it is however, on record that the features introduced in the upgrade licensing scheme has secured Nigerian reciprocity with six European countries and the state of Maryland in the USA.

This allows holders of the new Nigeria drivers licence to replace same with the driver’s licence of these six European countries and the state of Mary-land, USA.

Over and above the numerous recognitions and international awards it has garnered, is the plain fact that the FRSC has come of age, is doing a good job and has some of the best trained staff of all the MDAs in Nigeria.We comment the Commission at 25 and urge the Federal Government to give it all due support and encouragement.