by Christiana Gokyo, Jos
Drivers in Gombe State have been cautioned to avoid drugs, overloading, over-speeding, and stick to traffic rules and regulations.
The Gombe State Governor, Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya, disclosed this recently at the flagging-off the 2023 ‘Ember Months’ Zero Tolerance Campaign, themed ‘Speed Thrills But Kills.’
He was represented by his deputy, Dr Manasseh Daniel Jatau, when noted that, “No accident is caused by ghosts or spirits, but human recklessness to safety rules and guidelines to include drug abuse and overloading, while driving.”
He urged the State Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps to reserve no mercy on erring drivers and ensure no drunken driver is allowed to ply any road in the state.
While commending the Corps on its commitments to ensuring safety of roads in the state and beyond, which resulted into reduced road crashes in the state, the governor charged drivers and all road users to remain law abiding so as to save more lives and property.
Speaking earlier in his address, the Corps Commander Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Gombe State Command, Felix Theman, said the state has witnessed reduction in the number of road crashes and fatalities in 2023, compared to 2022.
According to him, in 2022, the Command recorded a total of 445 crashes with 70 fatalities, killing a total of 110 persons, while 1,074 were injured.
He said, “However for the year 2023, up to 31 October, 2023, a total of 280 crashes have been recorded, with 43 fatal cases, killing 79 persons, while 779 were injured.
The Commander noted that the reduction may not also be unconnected to the current petroleum price hike, following subsidy removal, a development he said has led to reduced number of private vehicles on roads, making members of the public leverage more on commercial transportations.
He commended the commitment of the State Government in the provision of road networks – a development he said has greatly reduced road accidents in Gombe State.
While appreciating the Inuwa Yahaya-led government for supporting the Corps with operational vehicles, Commander Felix Theman appealed for more, considering the fact that the Corps is having presence in more parts of the state through its new offices.
On his part, Sole Administrator and Director-General Gombe State Transport Services (Gombe Line), Dr Sani Sabo, appreciated FRSC for its resolute to ensuring safety on the nation’s roads.
He said the service has recently certified over 40 vehicles and drivers with the FRSC, resuscitated over 50 broken-down busses and purchased brand new sets of tyres to 40 busses.
The Sole Administrator added that in his two months’ stewardship, the service was able to revive inter-local government services, assuring to start township services this Wednesday.
He said the new measures are meant to ameliorate public hardships, following the Federal Government’s subsidy removal. Others, who spoke at the flagg-off, include Commissioners of Works, Housing and Transportation, Internal Security and Ethical Orientation and Chairman Leased Vehicles (LV) of the Gombe Line Terminus jointly commended FRSC for its efforts to protecting lives and property of drivers and road users in the state.