The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Ondo State Command, has called on motorists to always provide accurate and reliable data to enhance the safety on the highways.

Mr Ezekiel SonAllah, State Sector Commander of FRSC, made the call on Monday in Akure during a public enlightenment to mark the West Africa Road Safety Organisation (WARSO) Day.

The theme of the 2023 WARSO Day celebration is “Improving Road Safety Data Management: A Call For Action”.

SonAllah, who explained that celebration of the  WARSO day was an annual event, said that the executive committee of WARSO chose May 8 for the 2023 celebration during its resolution held in Cotonou, Republic of Benin, on April 2023.

According to him, as long as road crashes continue to be on the rise, understanding the cause of accidents and how to prevent them will continue to be increasingly important.

“There is a need for accurate and reliable road safety data because without good data, it is a great challenge to identify patterns, trends and make informed decision about road safety policies and practices.

“Crash investigations play a critical role in providing valuable insight into the events leading up to a crash and identifying contributing factors.

“So, through collaboration and data sharing, we can uncover valuable insights that can lead to more effective road safety policies and practices,” he said.

The FRSC sector commander, who called on relevant stakeholders to join hands with the corps to provide accurate data, said that this would help in prioritising decision making and work towards creating safer roads for all.

“With a continued commitment to this effort, we can make considerable progress in improving road safety and reducing the number of collisions on our roads thereby saving lives,” he said.

Mr Tobi Ogunleye, Special Adviser to Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu on Transport, who was represented by Mr Alaba Adeleye, Director of Vehicle Inspection Service in the state, charged motorists to always imbibe the road safety culture while they are on the wheels.

Ogunleye said that if the motorists could collaborate with the relevant stakeholders, issues of crashes on highways would be minimal.

According to him, when we look at the crashes on our roads there is something we need to do for the betterment of our road users.

” Our motorists need to adopt the ways and manners women imbibe safety on the roads because hardly do women get involved in road accident if compare with their  male counterpart.

“There are lessons to learn from women because women will never drive bad or faulty vehicles, never drive without licence, and neither will they drink beer while on wheel,” he said.

Mr Akinrinade Bashiru, Ajapada NURTW Branch Secretary in Ilesha Garage, Akure, who appreciated the corps for the programme, called on the FRSC and the government to provide road signs on highways to enhance safety and reduce accidents.

Also speaking, Mr Kareem Oluomo, Chairman Oloko NURTW Branch in Akure, attributed causes of the accidents to fake spare parts and tyres.

He said that it was critical for FRSC and the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to collaborate to ensure that fake spare parts were not stocked by auto parts traders. (

Residents of Sokoto have lauded the commitment of  the Police and other security agencies for their sustained raidis of criminal hideouts at the state metropolis.

The Newsmen recalls that Mr Ali Kaigama, the newly posted Police Commissioner in the state at his maiden address to the Officers and men of the command on Friday vowed to conduct the operation.

Kaigama assured that the state metropolis, major towns and public places would enjoy visibility policing, patrols and raid of black spots in order to eradicate violent crimes, thuggery, communal clashes and other emerging threats.

“This will be done in accordance with international best practices and also be mindful of human right abuses.

“The command will also engage and strengthen the services of PCRC at all divisions, area commands and state headquarters to achieve the set objective,” he said.

Kaigama added that the police, in collaboration with other security personnel would continue to strive to perform their duties diligently to enable the residents to sleep with their two eyes closed.

Malam Musa Dan-Malam, a resident of Mana in Sokoto South Local Government Area, said the police had performed excellently toward ensuring sanity in their environment.

“We have been facing a lot of threats even before the recent political activities, but with the current police raids on criminals, we experience freedom of life.

“I was a vctim of phone snatching, as I am talking to you before it is in the daylight that those criminals will attack innocent residents, collect their handsets and other belongings.

“More over, nobody can stop those bad boys, but today, the situation had totally changed even in the night one can move freely without any intimidation,” he said.

Dan-Malam appreciated the security agencies, while appealing to them to sustain the feat to ensure the situation is not refitted.

Also speaking,  Madam Patient Emanuel, a resident of Dambuwa, in Dange-Shuni LGA, said the criminal activities of snatching phones, purses and ladies’ bags along the road and in some areas have become more worrisome.

“However, if the security operatives will sustain these raids, the state will return to its position of being the most peaceful in the country,” she said.

On his part, Bello Ahmadu, a resident of Kanwuri in Sokoto North LGA, said the current security operations would bolster business activities and build more confidence for the residents to report criminals.

“Those that continue to terrorise our areas are known, but people are afraid to report them in order not to become victims.

“Therefore, we hope the security agencies will be sincere in their operations in order to win the confidence of the good people of our state,” he said.

The Nigerian Army says it has taken steps to boost poultry and other agricultural activities as part of effort to key into the Federal Government’s food security policy.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, said this on Tuesday in Abuja, at the opening of a 3-Day Poultry Management Workshop organised by the Nigerian Army Farms and Ranches Limited (NAFARL).

Yahaya, represented at the workshop with the theme, “Gaining an Edge in Poultry Management” by the Chief of Logistics (Army), Maj.-Gen. Omotomilola Akintade, said that NAFARL was established to spearhead the Nigerian army’s involvement in the federal government agricultural programmes and expose it to agriculture and its full value chain.

The COAS said that the workshop was organised to rekindle the effort of the Nigerian Army at providing viable and sustainable agricultural programmes and ventures through effective farming and ranching.

He added that it was also aimed at showcasing poultry business in the army as one of the quick impact projects and to address the economic challenges facing the country.

“Since my assumption of office as the COAS, NAFARL has recorded tremendous successes and achievements in the provision of basic food items as well as Research and Development into modern farming and ranching techniques.

“These achievements when impacted into the participants would support my Vision, which is “To Build a Professional Nigerian Army Ready to Accomplish Assigned Mission within a Joint Environment in Defence of Nigeria.

“I have given this Workshop top priority as it has the potential to greatly assist in capacity building of personnel towards effectively contributing towards the federal government agricultural revolution with the aim of ensuring food security.

“I strongly hope that NAFARL would showcase the effort of the Nigerian Army in contributing to economic growth through non-kinetic approach,” he said.

Yahaya said the contents of the workshop would broaden the horizon and further stimulate the appetite of participants in contemporary poultry business and agricultural global trends.

He said that it would also provide a forum to prepare both serving participants and others about to exiting the service, for life in retirement through participation in agricultural activities and its numeral value chain.

The Executive Director, NAFARL, Maj.-Gen. Mike Durowaiye, said the workshop was one of the quick impact projects to address some of the economic challenges facing the personnel.

Durowaiye said the event would also assist in capacity building of personnel towards venturing into poultry business.

“As a tool for self-sustaining and mitigating unemployment and food challenges in the Nigerian army, I also hope this workshop will broaden the horizon and further stimulate the appetite of participants in contemporary poultry management practices.

“The theme Getting an Edge in Poultry Business is in a tandem with one of the objectives of NAFARL which is to contribute to National Gross Domestic Products (GDP) through agricultural best practices.

“Thus, this workshop will provide the forum to prepare both serving participants and others about to exit the service for life in retirement through participation in agricultural activities and its numerous value chains.

“ It is expected that participants will use the unique opportunities of interaction provided by the workshop to rekindle our passion for improved food production and its commercial benefits,” he said.