By Stanley Onyekwere
As part of measures to ensure sustainable and efficient transport sector in Abuja, the nation’s capital city, FCT Administration has engaged stakeholders on accelerating formulation and implementation of inclusive regulatory reforms, aimed at repositioning the sector.
In particular, the FCTA Transport Secretariat through its Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS) yesterday met with the stakeholders comprising of associations of automotive dealers, technicians, drivers, riders, transporters, military and paramilitary agencies, in Jahi District of Abuja.
In his opening remark, FCTA Permanent Secretary Olusade Adesola, who decried the high rate of road crashes in FCT, noted the need for stakeholders to meet, in order to tackle the menace.
Represented by a director in his office, Prospect Ibe, the Permanent Secretary stressed the importance of the development and deployment of technologies for efficient management and regulation of the transport sector.
According to him, effective regulation remains key to sanitising the FCT Transport sector, in the best interest of all and sundry in the Territory.
He therefore enjoined the stakeholders in the sector to support the ongoing reinvigorated effort to provide efficient transport regulations and management, in line with best global practice.
Earlier, in a welcome remark, the Acting Secretary, FCT Transport Secretariat, Usman Yahaya, reiterated the government’s commitment to continually improve on road transport services in the FCT, through harnessing the available ICT facilities for efficient management and regulations.
He stressed the need for the stakeholders to form a common front, in order to attain the set objective of entrenching an efficient transport services in the Territory.
Also speaking, Committee Chairman, Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) on road health and safety Dr. Idris Mohammed , said the association was concerned about the increasing rate of health challenges through road clashes, hence the launch of an initiative to improve safety on roads.
Mohammed, a gynaecologist, attributed some of the notorious accidents to impunity, poor driving attitude, inadequate road signs, access roads, regulation and management strategies, which required joint action to curtail.
On his part, representative of the FCT Federal Road Safety Corps FRSC sector Commander, O.S. Ochi, commended the FCTA for its huge investment in improving safety on roads in the Territory, added that the stakeholders meeting was apt, as the initiative would go a long way to reduce road crashes in the Territory.
He noted that most of the road accidents in the FCT are unnecessary, as they are not caused by road infrastructure, but human factors especially impatience of drivers in the Territory.
Not left out, representative of Auto Dealers Association of Motor Dealers in Nigeria, Prince Ajibola, said as part of the stakeholders, they are responsible for the 98% of vehicles on Nigerian roads, hence the need to contribute their quota for the improvement of safety in the society.
He also called on the FCT Minister to address the issue of poor traffic lights on FCT roads, which are making driving especially in the night very unfriendly.
DRTS Director, Alh. Wadata Bodiga performed the presentation and overview of the Public Transportation Management System (PTMS), aimed at achieving a safe, clean, effective and we’ll coordinated public transportation system.
Bodiga further explained that it aims harnessing technology initiatives to improve the public transportation system, so as to bring about efficient management and regulation of the transport sector.
Highpoint of the meeting was the presentation of overview and highlight of the proposed revised Road Transport Regulation 2021.
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