By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal

Hoteliers in Kwara appealed to Gov. Abdulrahaman Abdulrazaq on Saturday to save them from harassment, coercion, intimidation, extortion and unlawful locking up of their facilities by the state’s revenue agency.

They alleged that officials of Kwara Internal Revenue Service (KWIRS) regularly locked up their hotels without court order and that the action could lead to a collapse of the hospitality industry in the state.

President of the Association of Hotel Owners in Kwara, Alhaji Dauda Akande, and its General Secretary, Mr Babatunde Oladunmoye, represented the hoteliers in making the appeal.

They alleged that KWIRS regularly used the police to harass, intimidate, arrest, detain and charge members with criminal offences.

They alleged also that there was complete lack of synergy between KWIRS and the ministries, departments and agencies responsible for fixing and negotiating taxes and levies.

They stated that the lack of synergy had resulted in the serving of “crazy bills’’ on hoteliers as demand notices.

“Our members are not in the position to pay the huge bills under the current national economic situation.

“Currently our members pay more than 20 different taxes and levies to the federal, state and local governments.

“Over regulation and multiplicity of taxes is currently a huge disincentive to investments in Kwara’s hospitality and tourism industry,’’ they stated.

The officials stated also that association members were regularly served inaccurate demand notices that included bills dating back to the Covid-19 era when the pandemic demanded the shutting of all hotels.

“The collapse of the hotel business in Kwara will result in job losses and an increase in crime rates.

“We request that commercial properties paying commercial land charges to Kwara State Geographic Information Service should be exempted from business premises levy because this amounts to double taxation on the commercial property.

“Agencies established for social services like Kwara Environmental Protection Agency, and the Fire Service should be well-funded by government and not be converted to revenue-generating agencies with yearly revenue targets.

“Business associations should be allowed to pay taxes and levies from their members directly to government revenue accounts.

“This is to prevent extortion and diversion of percentages of the taxes and levies to private pockets through collusion and conspiracies,’’ the association stressed.

It warned KWIRS to stop locking hotels without court order since it could not be the judge in its own case, adding that the agency should follow due process in all tax matters.

“Our association may have no other choice than to approach a court of competent jurisdiction for redress if the locking up of our hotels without due process continues,’’ the association also warned.

Responding to the allegations, however, Head of Corporate Affairs at the KWIRS, Mrs Titi Ogunwale, explained that both parties had been engaged in series of dialogues and discussions.

She expressed surprise at the hoteliers’ allegations and explained that meetings were held and resolutions were made on how to resolve issues.

“I am surprised to see this coming up again; we have had continuous collaborations with all associations in the state.

“If they are not happy, they can invite us or we invite them for discussion, which we have been doing.

“We held meetings two weeks ago and resolution was made by both parties. I do not know where all these claims they are making are coming from,’’ she said.

Ogunwale explained that KWIRS had already explained the legal procedure on what should be done to the hoteliers.

She observed that the association’s allegations would not help matters and that KWIRS would continue to educate relevant stakeholders on the issue of taxation.

She stressed that the position of the law was that anyone engaged in business activities in the state and was making profit, must pay taxes.

She noted that where business owners were running at a loss, they were not required to pay any tax as long as they present their evidences to the service.

The KWIRS spokesperson explained that the agency only collect taxes based on assessment by relevant ministries and does not generate the bills.

Ogunwale stressed that the agency was not rigid and explained that where there were complaints, “business owners can reach out to the relevant ministry, which will in turn communicate decisions to KWIRS’’. (NAN)

Edited by Yinusa Ishola/Alli Hakeem

By Grace Alegba

The Lagos State government on Saturday began clearing shanties and reclaiming Right of Way (RoW) of the Red Rail project corridor from Agbado, Ogun, to Ebute Metta, Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the enforcement team was led by the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr Oluyinka Olumide.

Olumide was accompanied by the Special Adviser, e-GIS and Urban Development, Dr Olajide Babatunde; General Manager, Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Mr Gbolahan Oki and senior directors of both the agency and ministry.

LASBCA is an agency under the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.

NAN further reports that the enforcement started from the Lateef Jakande Station, Agbado, on the Lagos-Ogun boundary and continued through Iju to Babatunde Fashola Station, Agege.

All makeshift stalls along rail lines were removed; permanent structures including four new generation churches were partially demolished and other encroachments were removed.

Two new churches under construction were sealed and marked with quit notices while traders hurriedly removed their wares from makeshift stalls as they knocked down.

Members of the demolition team sensitised traders at various locations on the danger of trading on the new train corridor.

They spoke to traders in both English and Yoruba warning of consequences of returning to rail tracks, which included outright arrest and prosecution.

The LASBCA boss, Oki, insisted that the lives of residents of Lagos were “more important than any business,” as such the operation must be seamless.

Oki who supervised the removal of obstructions on the RoW insisted that houses whose fences encroached road setbacks must be removed.

Speaking on the exercise, Olumide said the enforcement would continue along the entire train corridor.

He said the exercise would be sustained to keep the Red Rail Line project corridor safe for all Lagos residents.

Olumide advised traders and other business owners to relocate to the markets, while instructing his team to inspect the corridor every Tuesday and Thursday to apprehend defaulters and charge them to court.

“What we are doing is a clean up of the corridor along the Red Rail Line because the train that is coming is going to be a very fast train.

“It is not advisable for pedestrians to be along the corridor basically for their lives. Life is much more important to the state government. And in that regard we have to clear up all that the corridor.

“We will continue to clean up this corridor from the beginning up till the end along the Red Line.

“People must desist from putting up any structure along this corridor. They just must comply because their lives more important to us.

“Go online and check all rail stations in the world. It is not a place for people to walk, trade or carry out businesses,” he said.

The Red Line Rail project is a 37 kilometre North-South rail route proposed to run from Agbado to Marina, with 13 stations.

The station are: Agbado, Iju, Agege, Ikeja, Murtala Muhammad International Airport, the Domestic Airport, Oshodi, Mushin, Yaba, Ebute Meta, Iddo, Ebute Ero, and Marina. (NAN)

Edited by Salif Atojoko

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By Deji Abdulwahab

The Confederation of All Progressives Congress (APC) Support Groups has called on the Federal Government to diversify the nation’s economy from oil to agriculture revenue earnings.

It urged the government to go back to 1960s, where government invested heavily in agriculture and used its earnings to finance the national budget in the first Republic.

The Director-General of the group, Dr Kailani Muhammed, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Abuja, in commemoration of the 63rd independence of the country.

Muhammed recalled that in the 60s, the country produced rice to feed Nigerians and people in West Africa and earned foreign exchange from agriculture, particularly rice from Niger State.

He added that Kaduna for instance, produced maize that fed the country and West Africa.

According to him, Nigeria needs to shift from oil earning because, corruption in the sector, has destroyed all the strata of the economy.

“After first Republic, those our grandfathers in the likes of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Tafawa Balewa and others, what they had in their minds, I think, was the country itself and not about materialism.

“From 1983 when the military took over till date, it has not been well because corruption has destroyed all the strata of the economy.

“There is no reason why Nigerians should be poor. I don’t want to say the oil that we have is a curse on us,” he said.

He expressed optimism that the present administration, with its “Renewed Hope Agenda” would bring back the agriculture sector to boost the nation’s economy.

“With all indications President Bola Tinubu is willing to do that, as he continues the implementation of agricultural policy of the past administration, particularly now that he has declared the state of emergency in the agriculture sector.

“So,  we hope that with all things being equal, it will work well for us, so that we will not depend on oil,” Muhammed said.

The director-general also urged Nigerians to borrow a leaf from an American man who was willing to die holding America’s flag because of patriotism and nationalism.

“This man believes in his country, what about us?. Unless we are able as a people to come together, to know that this country belongs to all of us and we don’t have any other country apart from Nigeria,” he said. (NAN)

Edited by Chinyere Nwachukwu/Isaac Aregbesola

By Ginika Okoye

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) says it has opened investigation into an alleged healthcare neglect by Maitama District Hospital, Abuja, which led to the death of one Ms Greatness Olorunfemi.

FCCPC, in a statement by its Executive Vice Chairman, Mr Babatunde Irukera, on Saturday, said the investigation was to find out if Olorunfemi’s death was on account of failure implicated in the commission’s Patients’ Bill of Rights (PBoR).

Irukera said the investigation was also to know other enforceable legal instruments regarding attention and care to patients generally, especially in emergency situations where victims of criminal conduct required medical attention.

He said the commission welcomed the statement of the Office of FCT Secretary for Health Services and Environment, announcing a transparent broad investigation including a Coroner’s Inquest into the matter.

”FCCPC commiserates with Ms. Greatness Olorunfemi’s family, friends and associates who are affected by this tragic loss.

”There are disputed accounts of whether she received appropriate care, or delay pending production of a police report, or was brought in Dead on Arrival (DoA).

The commission has opened an investigation accordingly.

”Particular concern is if Olorunfemi died on account of failures implicated in the commission’s Patients’ Bill of Rights (PBoR) or other enforceable legal instruments regarding attention and care to patients generally.

”More specifically, in emergency situations where victims of criminal conduct require attention.

”Considering the facility concerned is a government institution and the commission’s determination to progress a limited inquiry into the consumer protection aspects of the events, the commission immediately engaged relevant stakeholders,”he said.

The executive vice chairman said the commission was looking forward to participating, supporting and collaborating with the FCT administration in the investigation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Olorunfemi was reportedly thrown from a moving vehicle along the Maitama-Kubwa highway.

She was said to be a member of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) Network.

Moyosoluwa Oladayo, the YALI Network Abuja coordinator, said the deceased died due to delay by healthcare workers at the Maitama District Hospital.

“There is a viral video of her when she was thrown out of the vehicle.

She was unconscious and was reportedly taken to Maitama District Hospital where they kept asking for a Police report till she gave up twenty minutes later,” she said. (NAN)

Edited by Olawunmi Ashafa

By EricJames Ochigbo

No fewer than 100 residents of Kobi Seriki, a suburb of Abuja, on Saturday received free medical services, food and household items from the Rotary Club of Asokoro as part of its humanitarian services.

The outreach was under projects Declutter to Empower, Feed the Family and Medical Outreach implemented by the club.

The residents, which included People With Disability (PWD), were given food and household items which included rice, beans, yams, noddles, corn, bed foam, pots, fan, shoes, cloths, baby items among others.

The President of the club, Dr Adesuwa Agbontaen, said that Kobi community was adopted to provide care, support and other interventions by the club.

He explained that the gesture was part of what Rotary International does which is providing humanitarian services that help and give succor to people.

“Our team for this year is ‘Create Hope in the World” and this is one way to create hope; we know that right now there is so much hopelessness, difficulties, economic problems and hunger in the land.

“In anyway we can ameliorate it, in any way we can bring smile to faces of people is what we are doing today.

“We hope that at the end of this exercise, some people will be happier, some will feel better and that is why we are here today,” he said.

Also speaking, a member of the club, Mr Olalekan Odutayo, said that over the years, the club had sank a bow hole powered by electricity in the community.

He said that the club had built two blocks of four classrooms in the primary school in the community and was preparing to rehabilitate dilapidated classrooms.

Odutayo said that the tripartite projects of declutter to empower, feed the family and medical outreach are annual projects carried out in the community by the club.

He said that the club is also partnering with Asokoro General Hospital to sponsor cataract eye surgery for patients in the community.

In separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) the excited beneficiaries who spoke were full of gratitudes to the club.

They prayed God for the expansion of the club and blessings on its members for reaching out to them at a time of need.

Mr Lazarus Turaki, a beneficiary of Feed the Family Project said that he was happy to be part of the programme

He prayed for more strength for the members of the club to continue the good works that are doing in the community.

Miss Beauty Rafael, a beneficiary of Declutter to Empower said that she received baby cloths and food stuff.

She said that she is hoping to birth a baby boy soon saying that the baby cloths were a sign that her boy is on the way.

Mrs Faith Emmanuel, who also got food items and cloths, commended the club for their humanitarian services.

She prayed God for many more successful years for the clubs and wishing the club expansion and growth. (NAN)(www. nannews. ng)

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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

By Oluwafunke Ishola

The founder and Chief Executive Officer of Erisco Foods Ltd., Chief Eric Umeofia, says that a powerful syndicate keen on killing his company is behind the “false and malicious’’ social media post against the company.

Speaking to newsmen on Saturday in Lagos on the raging Facebook controversy, Umeofia said that the syndicate, whom he identified as importers of tomato paste had been pulling such pranks over the years.

“Their ultimate goal is to discourage Erisco Foods as Nigeria’s major local tomato paste maker and force Nigeria to depend on imported tomato paste,’’ Umeofia said.

He vowed, however, that he would continue to forge ahead, to make tomato paste locally and discourage importation of the product to save the Nigerian economy.

Umeofia, who is described as Africa’s top tomato paste maker, said that the purported review of ‘Nagiko Tomato Mix’ by a Facebook user, named Chioma Egodi, was apparently another attempt to smear a local brand that had put a Nigerian manufacturer on the map.

Records show that Erisco Foods has had a dominant presence in the tomato paste sector in Angola and Liberia over the years, positioning itself as the fourth largest of its type in the world.

He lamented that the offensive Facebook post had a tendency to impact negatively on the company, describing the development as “one of the painful experiences of engaging in manufacturing in Nigeria’’.

According to Umeofia, the so called review of ‘Nagiko Tomato Mix’ by Egodi, showed her total lack of knowledge of the ingredients used in the making of tomato paste.

Describing Egodi’s post as baseless and malicious, he said that the write-up was clearly meant to drag Erisco Foods to the mud and destroy one of its flagship products.

“She showed her determination to kill our brand and products so why should I let her go scot-free?

“For the past five years, I’ve not received any credit facility in Nigeria – no loan. For the past three years, I’ve not received one dollar as foreign exchange.

“I’ve been sustaining my local production from my foreign investments in Angola and the United Arab Emirates.”

Narrating how the incident unfolded, Umeofia said that after Egodi’s product review on social media, he reached out to his staff to find out if any complaint had been filed by Egodi.

“I found out that there was none — no product, no batch number, no production number – but a claim that our product is killing people.

“We released a statement that we would not allow our efforts of over 40 years of production to be destroyed by a syndicate of importers who had been fighting our products.

“We decided to defend our corporate identity by tagging her to the statement.

“Some people advised her to pull down the post that she’s destroying someone’s business but she refused.

“She abused those that had positive comments about our products but made thumbs up for those that criticised it. Then we knew she had a hidden agenda.

Umeofia added: “we had fought tomato paste importers for years because we believe that producing products locally was the best way to support economic growth.

“Should I now sit back and allow someone to destroy what we’ve spent over 10 years building?”

The chief executive officer said that efforts to reach Egodi proved abortive, necessitating Erisco Foods to petition the inspector-general of police to investigate the allegations.

“If my product has been killing people, I should be killed.

“I have over 3,000 workers in my factory and pay over 20,000 people indirectly. How can I allow syndicates to destroy my hard work?”

Umeofia clarified that the product under scrutiny was a tomato mix and not tomato paste and that the former always had sugar as an active ingredient, stressing that the product was certified by NAFDAC.

He displayed an apology letter, purportedly written to Erisco Foods through the Nigeria Police Force, regarding the product review Egodi had posted. (NAN)

Edited by Silas Nwoha

By Funmilayo Adeyemi

The Junior Secondary School (JSS), Karu, Abuja has emerged winner of the

FCT Universal Basic Education Board Head-to-Head Debate Reality Show for Public and Private Junior Secondary Schools across the Six Area Councils of the FCT.

The JSS Karu won the competition, scoring 67 per cent while JSS Kubwa III scored 66.6 per cent to come in second position.

The third position went to ‘Pinky and Brains’, a private school in  Dutse Alhaji, Bwari Area Council of the FCT.

Also,  the best speaker award was given to Ms Mfoniso-abasi Bernard of  the JSS  in Kubwa III.

The preliminaries of the contest was held in the six Area Councils of the FCT involving 75 schools with 35 student

Highlights of the debate centred on the rights of the children on compulsory free basic education for all children of school age resident in the FCT.

Speaking earlier, the Acting Executive Chairman of the board, Dr Alhassan Sule  said the debate was initiated as a platform to address the incidences of out-of-school children in territory.

He stated that the programme was aimed at giving every child the opportunity to develop their potential, boosting their confidence and critical thinking skills in addition to reducing minimally the incidence of out-of-school Children.

According to him, education is a right and not a privilege and offered solution to the myriad of human problems.

Also speaking,  Alhaji Kudu Dangana, Director, Social Mobilisation and Chairman, Head-To-Head Planning Committee appreciated the Acting Executive Chairman for coming  up with such a novel programme where learners could speak with evidence.

He said the programme would positively impact on the students and schools.

In the same vein, the Director, Quality Assurance Department of the board, Dr  Emmanuel Shuaibu, applauded the management for the innovation.

He called on principals to do more by bringing the best talents from the schools while also appreciating the Area Council Chairmen for their support towards the programme. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Sadiya Hamza

By Deborah Coker

The Richard George Foundation (RGF), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), on Friday in Abuja, inaugurated its digital learning hub established for young talented graduates.

Mr Richard George, Founder RGF, while briefing newsmen shortly after the inauguration, said that it was expected that the facility would serve as a knowledge hub for young talented graduates.

George said that the vision of the Foundation was to start raising young talented Africans who would become real change makers.

”Because we believe that those whose the world has not changed are those ones who will absolutely change the world. And, we want to play a part in this, ” he said.

He explained that RGF was an organisation set up to provide empowerment for young talented graduates, adding that the pillars of the Foundation were three fold

He said the fold included skills acquisition development, which could be technical or soft skill.

Others he said included education, which was not in the formal structure as was common, and then entrepreneurship opportunities.

The founder added that it was hoped that the facility would provide an opportunity for it to begin to birth concept and ideas that will become the start up business for tomorrow’s young talented Nigerians.

He disclosed that the NGO was just nine months old as it was birthed in 2023, adding that the Foundation was anxious to hit a key milestone.

“This is part of the milestone, before we turn one year,” he said.

He also disclosed that since the birth of the Foundation, no fewer than 52 mentees had been mentored in the first cohort, adding that another 50 mentees were being unburdened to commence the second cohort mid October.

“It is a continuous exercise and our mentorship programme is designed for only six months at a time.

“And, we also create opportunities for the mentees to undertake internship in several organisations that are partnering with us or supporting our vision.

“We also provide opportunity for them to continue their learning or chose a different career part,” he said.

George noted that several challenges poses limitations which hamper young men and women in Nigeria as discovered Foundation through research.

He said this included inabilities of several young graduates to own laptops or devices for continuous learning improvement, resources for data, and internet connectivity and reliability.

“These limitations affect the continuous growth of mindset of several of the nation’s young talents.

“So, before they go into employment, they lack the skills to be able to function in organised setting,” he said.

He further said that unemployment had social issues and consequences for the demographics (18 to 35) years, which the Foundation was focusing on.

“Increase in unemployment from the research by KPMG is pointing to 43 per cent, which means we are talking of a ticking time bomb.

“Having this type of facility is an opportunity for them to transfer energy into a place where engagement, communication, teamwork will thrive .

“And, our job is to ensure that the mentorship against our ethos and principles embedded as customer practice so as to become real change makers,” George said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the symbolic tape cutting of the facility was done by Mrs Astrid Arens, President/Founder, Voice Aid Association, Germany, one of the partners of the Foundation. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

By Aderogba George

Gov. Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau on Friday in Abuja called for more recognition of the nursing profession, saying the practitioners are relegated to the background.

The governor made the call at the presentation of a book titled: “Challenges and Triumph of the Nursing Profession in Nigeria” written by Prof. Kola Oyedepo.

According to Mutfwang, the centrality of the nursing profession to the health sector cannot be overemphasised and the contribution of the profession is enormous.

He therefore called on policy makers, trainers and stakeholders to make sure that they promote the profession to fulfil its mandate.

“Nurses are very central in the healthcare delivery system, midwives are very central to the issue of birth. We must make sure that the professionalism in the sector is enhanced in every way that is possible.

“I want to congratulate the author of this book for giving the nurses further tools
to work. As governors, we are going to ensure that the health sector is looked at comprehensively.

“This is to make sure that the nursing profession within the health sector is given its pride of place, we are going to make policy pronouncements. We are going to invest in training to enhance the profession in our state,” he said.

The Registrar/Chief Executive Officer, Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), Dr Faruk Abubakar, noted that nurses play a pivotal role in the healthcare delivery.

Represented by Mr Emmanuel Udontre, Director, Planning Research and Statistics, NMCN, Abubakar said that nurses have the autonomous and collaborative care of individuals of all ages, families, groups and communities, sick or well and in all settings.

According to him, advocacy, promotion of a safe environment, research, participation in shaping health policy and patients, health system management and education are key roles of nurses.

He called on government at all levels to begin to show more care to the nurses for the big role they perform in the healthcare system.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of of Health (FMoH), Mrs Daju Kachallom, also stated that the nursing and Midwifery profession occupies a unique and vital place within the healthcare system.

Represented by Mrs Francisca Okafor, Director of Nursing, FMoH, Kachallom said that nurses and midwives are compassionate, skilled and tireless professionals.

She said they are often the first and last point of care for patients, stressing that they must be treated with dignity.

Kachallom stated that they provide comfort in times of distress, guidance during moment of uncertainty and skilful assistance during the most critical phases of life.

She thanked the author of the book for dishing out such enormous knowledge in the medical profession.

The book author disclosed that he was motivated to write the book to encourage practitioners of nursing and midwifery to be committed to the profession and to seek for more knowledge.

The professor added that he was also motivated to write the book so that people will give more recognition to the practitioners of nursing profession, saying that nurses give 70 to 75 per cent assistance to the medical profession.

Oyedepo who was responding to the allegation of nurses of not being part of President Bola Tinubu’s ministerial nominees, blamed the nurses saying that they are not projecting themselves well as it ought to be.

According to him, nurses have a lot of information that could revive the healthcare but they are not projecting such information in the right direction, hence they are relegated to the background.

“Information is power but when this is not given out in the right direction, there is bound to be setback.

“Nurses have a lot of information but they are not projecting them out, there is a lot of advocacy they need to be doing to make them to be recognised.

“If you don’t say I am here, nobody will recognise you. Out of the three professions in the health fields, pharmacy, nursing and medicine, nurses carry almost 70 per cent of the healthcare workers population.

“They are not showing up but they want to be in power, this is why the people in power just ignore them ,” Oyedepo said.

He called on nurses and midwives to make use of his book to garner more knowledge about the profession and way out of the challenges confronting it. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Julius Toba-Jegede

By Clara Egbogota

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Delta Command, advises  motorists to obey traffic rules and regulations to stem crashes on highways during and after the ember months.

Mr Bassey Eshiet, the Sector Commander of FRSC Delta Command,  gave the advice on Thursday at the flag-off of Ember Months Campaign 2023 entitled: “Speed Thrills, Speed Kills, Drive Responsibly and Avoid Overloading”.

According to him, toward the end of every year, the volume of traffic increases, coupled with high incidences of road traffic infractions.

“These infractions include route violation, excessive speeding, dangerous driving, wrongful overtaking, overloading, drunk driving, drivers fatigue and making call while driving.

“These risk factors result in Road Traffic Crashes with fatalities, and the high vehicular volume due to surge in movement of people results in traffic gridlock, fatigue and sometimes road traffic crash amongst others.

“The Corps’ determination to check these trends and ensure free flow of traffic culminated in 2023 Ember Months Road Safety Campaign prior to the commencement of year 2023 End of Year Special Patrol Operation from December  2023 to January 2024.

“The aim of the campaign is to immensely reduce crashes and to ensure as much as possible the elimination of death from crashes that may occur if any,” he said.

Eshiet noted that the higher the speed of a vehicle, the shorter the time a driver had to stop and avoid a crash adding that speeding contributed to the severity of the impact when a collision occurs.

According to him,  controlling vehicle speed can prevent crashes and reduce the impact when they do occur, lessening the severity of injuries sustained by the victim.

“What is obvious to you may not be to others, most people don’t think  `Road Safety’ as long as they have a good vehicle and a reasonable stretch of road.

“A car travelling at 50km/h will typically require 13 metres to stop, while a car travelling at 40km/h will stop in less than 8.5 metres.

“An increase in average speed of 1 km/h typically results in a 37 per cent higher risk of a crash involving injury, with a four per cent to five per cent increase for crashes that result in fatalities.

“For car occupants in a crash with an impact speed of 80km/h, the likelihood of death is 20 times what it would have been at an impact speed of 30km/h.

“The relationship between speed and injury severity is particularly critical for vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists.

“Pedestrians have been shown to have a 90 per cent chance of survival when struck by a car travelling at 30km/h or below, but less than 50 per cent chance of surviving an impact at 45km/h.

“Pedestrians have almost no chance of surviving an impact of 80km/h,” he said.

The Delta  Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, represented by Vincent Ehiwario, Director, Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS), identified lack of maintenance culture as a major cause of crashes on the road

“Many people fail to engage in simple maintenance check and servicing of their vehicle such as the brakes, tyres, steering etc.

“It is important to check these things because they are major causes of road crashes, and checking them can prevent loss of lives and properties,” he said.

Mr Silas Omobude, Assistant Director, Narcotics, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), warned motorists to desist from illicit use of drugs on steering, drunk-driving during and after the “ember” month.

“Most of the road crashes that occur during the `ember’ months are caused by bad attitudes of drivers.

“Drunk-driving and illicit use of drugs are not allowed during, before and after ’ember’ months.

“Motorists should ensure effective functioning of the steering system, headlights, brake, wipers and tyres, for safety,” he said. (NAN)(nannews.com.ng)

Edited by Vivian Ihechu