The Kwara State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Frederick Ogidan, has said that multiple auto-crashes have claimed no fewer than 30 lives across the state in one week.
Ogidan stated this while addressing reporters in Ilorin, the state capital, on the sidelines of the launch of this year’s ember months campaign and mega rally.
The FRSC chief added that “there were three separate incidents. One involved four casualties, another one nine and the last one had 16 persons involved who all died in the process.
“Most of them were actually multiple accidents with the last one happening on the weekend along the Ilorin/Jenna/Ogbomisho highway”, he added.
He appealed to motorists to avoid overspeeding, overloading and use of unsafe tyres to reduce accidents adding that all stakeholders should redouble efforts at ensuring safety on our roads.
“As the year draws to an end, you can only but expect an increase in our patrol operations, enforcement and rescue operations as this is the only way to ensure we arrive alive,” he added.
The Sector Commander explained that as the year ends, the increase in vehicular movement may increase road crashes if all hands are not on deck to ensure safety on the roads through public enlightenment and education, effective patrols and prompt rescue services.
He urged commercial drivers who carry the highest number of passengers involved in road traffic crashes to ensure they drive with valid driver’s license among others.
In his remarks, FRSC Zonal Commanding Officer in charge of Kwara, Kogi and Ekiti states, Hyginus Omeje, observed that the aerial night view of Ilorin metropolis is not good enough, particularly when aircraft land at night in Ilorin.
Omeje appealed to the state government to improve the situation by installing solar power lights.
