By Stanley Onyekwere
The FCT Administration will introduce digital security monitoring and control system in the existing transport management system in the FCT, according to the Minister of FCT, Mr. Nyesom Wike.
The minister, who spoke through Secretary, FCTA Transport Secretariat, Mr. Ubokutom Nyah, opined that the digitization would ensure the safety and security of commuters in the FCT.
Wike stated this at the 2023 Special Marshals Sectoral Workshop, organised by the Federal Road Safety Corps, FCT Sector Command Special Marshal.
The workshop, held in Abuja, at the weekend has the theme, “Volunteerism in Road Safety Management: Limits and Possibilities”.
He added that the initiative, which would be rolled out soon, would equally enhance affordability and efficiency in the transportation services.
“The idea of the digital monitoring system was part of our attention to details in providing a transportation system that would be safe and secured.
“Apart from being affordable, those entering a vehicle, private or mass transit of the FCT to have a peace of mind that as he enters the vehicle, he will come out safely”, he stressed.
He explained that the digital monitoring system would be made up of cameras that would be able to track vehicles that carry anybody.
He added that people entering vehicles would scan the vehicle using their phones and scanned out disembarking.
He said once in the vehicles the system would time the trip and alert the central control system if the person did not scan out at the time, he or she was supposed to disembark the vehicle.
“This means that in real time, there will be an alarm for the search for that individual who entered the vehicle.
“You don’t need to call any person at home, saying you entered a particular vehicle, because it is self-activating.
“As you enter you scan in the vehicle and it goes to the central control as you come out within a period, it also goes to cancel. If that is not canceled, there is an alarm that is triggered.
“We are working on the details, and it will not be too long before it comes on board,” he said.
According to him, other innovations would also be rolled out in line with the secretariat vision – safety, affordability, and flexibility; “that is going from one place to the next in the shortest possible time.
“We are working on rail transportation; we are working on Bus Rapid Transport and consulting with private individuals who will bring in their private transportation.
“The FCT will also be working on upgrading our motor parks to global standards, so that people will be encouraged to patronise public transport.
“This, of course, will reduce the number of private vehicles on the roads, and if there are fewer private vehicles, it means that the traffic movement would be better,” he stated.
While noting that Abuja records a high level of crashes as a result of the irresponsible road users which he described as “worrisome”, he called for drastic actions.
He pointed out that most road users do not comply with traffic regulations like maintaining tolerable speed limit, obeying traffic lights signals, and maintaining lane discipline among others.
This, he said, caused traffic infractions for other road users which made the roads unsafe.
He said the establishment of the Special Marshal Division by FRSC would help the corps to effectively discharge its statutory functions.
He further explained that on their own part as the Administrators of the FCT, they will continue to relate with critical stakeholders in the sector to enable them to achieve their core mandate.
Earlier in his remarks, the FRSC Corps Marshal, Dauda Biu, reiterated that the need for the review of the road safety management activities and analyse factors that could contribute to the reduction of crashes on Nigerian roads.
Represented by the Deputy Corps Marshal Shehu Zaki, the FRSC boss road noted that safety advocacy was not for the FRSC alone, but a responsibility of all stakeholders.
