By Ibironke Ariyo
The Namibian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Humphrey Geiseb, is seeking assistance from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) for the two countries to explore cooperation in the area of road safety and crash reduction.
The High Commissioner stated this during his courtesy visit to the national headquarters of the FRSC on Wednesday in Abuja.
In a statement by the Corps Public Education Officer (CPEO), Mr Bisi Kazeem, Geiseb said that this was neccesary as Namibia is in search of strategic initiatives that could lead to the reduction of crashes and fatalities in south-western part of Africa, particularly Namibia.
He revealed that Namibia found FRSC as a model to be domesticated in his country, noting that his visit was to find out what the FRSC had put in place to mitigate crashes in Nigeria.
“This has also led to massive reduction in deaths and injuries on the road and we are here so as to replicate this success story in Namibia.
“What we will learn from your success stories, I believe, will help reduce road traffic crashes in my country.
“Our supreme interest is not on the crash itself, but on how soon one can get rescued and urgent medical attention from the point of crash.
“I must say that I am honoured to be acquainted with the strategies put in place by your Corps to mitigate crashes in Nigeria,” he said.
Geiseb added that the search for what Namibia should do to end all incidences of crashes in the country, particularly during festive seasons, was the cardinal factor that informed the decision for the visit.
In his response, the Corps Marshal, FRSC, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, commended the commitment of the Namibian Government to the safety of lives and properties in their country and the existing mutual relationship between the two countries.
He explained how herculean saving lives on Nigeria’s 204,000-km-road network that stretches across a land mass of over 923,000 square metres could be, noting that the Corps was able to achieve great successes.
This, he said, was through a series of comprehensive support received from successive governments in Nigeria, beginning from 1988 when the Corps was established.
He also cited other strategic interventions and supports from international donors, including the World Bank, the European Union, the United nations, the World health Organization, among others.
He urged the High Commissioner to emulate what was obtainable in Nigeria and ensure that the agency saddled with the responsibility in Namibia was properly equipped for optimal performance.
He, however, thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for his unflinching support and commitment to the safety of lives and properties of all road users in the country. (NAN).
