The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Thursday began a three-day retreat for commanding officers in Zone RS9, with a call for improved inter-agency collaboration in promoting safety and security.
The bi-annual retreat taking place in Owerri had the theme: “The Impact of Collaboration between FRSC and Stakeholders in Promoting Safety, Security and Peaceful Coexistence in Zone RS9’’.
The Zonal Commanding Officer, Mr Samuel Obayemi, said at opening ceremony that the retreat was part of many processes which the FRSC instituted to improve service delivery, according to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN.
Obayemi, an Assistant Corp Marshal, said that enhanced collaboration with all stakeholders would boost road safety.
He said that domestication of road safety would achieve the agency’s objectives.
According to him, the place of stakeholders in the activities of the agency had been central.
Obayemi said that the special marshal unit of the corps was aimed at complementing the efforts of regular marshals in road safety.
He noted that members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) were critical stakeholders in driving road safety campaigns.
The Imo Sector Commander of the FRSC, Mr Joseph Aremu, said that the retreat was in line with the policy of the corps to build the capacities of its personnel to reposition them for emerging challenges.
Aremu also called for improved inter-agency collaboration for improved safety and security.
“Across the world, synergy and inter-agency relationships have become the key to accomplishment of missions particularly in the areas of safety, security, industry and commerce.
“It is in this light that we have gathered here to throw more light into the potential that exist among us when we work together for the common good of our people,” he said.
He expressed the optimism that the retreat would usher in a new vista of hope for a more fruitful relationships between the FRSC and other agencies.
“We need each other in our efforts to succeed and bring sanity to Nigerian roads,’’ he said.
The Commander of the 34 Artillery Brigade, Obinze, near Owerri, Brig.-Gen. Hamza Bature, frowned at indiscriminate use of siren which, he said, was rampant in Owerri.
Bature, represented by Col. Patrick Izang, urged that the use of siren should be properly controlled.
He called on the FRSC to check recklessness among truck drivers, saying that their carelessness posed much danger to other road users.