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Raymond Ozoji, Awka
The Federal Road Safety Corps Anambra state sector command has unveiled plans for adequate traffic control for the Yuletide season in Anambra state.
The apex traffic control agency in the country says it envisaged that during the highpoint of the festive season in the state, traffic volume may increase hence the command began making efforts to ensure that there is no traffic crisis during the period.
Sector commander of the corps in Anambra state Mr. Adeoye Irelewuyi told our correspondent at the command’s headquarters Awka that part of what the FRSC had done was to liaise with stakeholders with regard to meetings, palliative repairs and removal of obstructions from the roads to prevent gridlocks.
Irelewuyi equally disclosed that the state government had constituted a joint committee of all traffic agencies in the state and that FRSC was working in collaboration with them to map out strategies for traffic control at critical points.
He said the Federal Road Safety Corps had identified the critical areas which he listed to include Bridge Head Onitsha, Owerri Road, Umunze and some other places he described as flashpoints.
According to the state FRSC boss, the command would deploy about 500 Regular Marshals and about 600 Special Marshals together with other logistics to ensure that the critical flashpoints were adequately manned.
Apart from the foregoing, the sector commander also disclosed that the command had extended its operational hours into the nights especially in the urban areas to ensure free flow of traffic at night times.
Irelewuyi said security agencies were not left out in their plans as they would also be on hand to provide protection for traffic officials during their operations, stressing that FRSC had the assurance and support of the Anambra State Government to provide some of its tow trucks to remove obstructions when necessary.
The sector commander said the FRSC carried out road audit on quarterly basis and because of the expected increase in traffic volume this Yuletide, it sent signals to the relevant government agencies and some very bad portions of the highways were repaired to avoid hinderances.
He said that the Ember Months Campaigns had commenced since September this year and emphasis had been on speed reduction and safe driving, adding that the command would carry the campaign throughout the festive periods to further stress the need for motorists to obey traffic rules and regulations while considering other road users.
