The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has urged travelers to exercise patience and obey traffic rules while on the roads this Yuletide.
The South-East Coordinator of NEMA, Mr James Eze, gave the advice on Wednesday while flagging off the 2021 Operation Eagle Eye at 4-Corner Junction along Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway near Enugu.
Eze urged motorists to cooperate with traffic control officers/managers to ensure continuous flow of traffic during this season.
He revealed that the agency had deployed 25 duty-ready personnel for the operation, which is meant to last from Dec. 22 to Jan. 3.
The coordinator said that NEMA’s operation meant for the zone would cover four major routes, namely: Enugu-Awka-Onitsha; Enugu-Abakaliki; 9th Mile-Nsukka-Obollo Afor and Enugu-Aba-Port Harcourt.
He said that the agency had deployed a Mobile Intensive Care Unit (MICU) with the state-of-the-art medical equipment for health emergencies and rescues.
According to him, “we also have two patrol vans fitted with extricating machines for rescuing people trapped in vehicles in accidents.
“NEMA is complementing and re-enforcing whatever other sister agencies in traffic control can provide and we are operating virtually 24 hours as long as the operation lasts.
“We are also advising our brothers and sisters traveling to plan their journeys on time; avoid rush and excessive speed on the road.
“Every other traffic or rescue officer on the road is there for the benefit of the travelers. I urge motorists and every other traveler to obey them,” he said.
Speaking, Mr Chukwuemeka Udeani, Commander, Enugu State Traffic Management Authority (ESTMA), lauded the Federal Government and NEMA for their special operations and support to traffic control and management on roads within Enugu State.
“The collaboration of the state’s Ministry of Transport with NEMA and other sister traffic control agencies is already yielding positive results as there is free flow of traffic on most roads in the state.
“The ministry will build on this result-oriented and progressive synergy to ensure that our people receive the best service delivery on the roads,” he said.