The Federal Government says it has developed new strategies to further reduce the frequency of road accidents nationwide.
Minister of Transportation, Alhaji Saidu Alkali, made this known in Abuja on Thursday while receiving the committee set up to address critical road safety issues in the country.
The committee, comprising key stakeholders, was tasked with designing a mandatory training and certification programme for drivers of articulated vehicles, including trailers and fuel tankers.
Represented by Alhaji Musa Ibrahim, the Director overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Alkali said the initiative would significantly improve safety and security on Nigerian roads. He assured that the ministry would provide the necessary funding to ensure the committee’s projects were implemented.
“The government of President Bola Tinubu is committed to prudent governance and the safety of Nigerians on our roads. The ministry is determined to support you to ensure that our highways are free from accidents,” Alkali said.
Speaking earlier, committee representative Mr. Jide Owatunmise commended the minister for constituting the body, noting that it was formed based on a directive from the National Assembly.
He explained that the committee was mandated to commence retraining of tanker and trailer drivers within six months, adding that a workshop plan of action had already been developed and submitted for approval and funding.
Owatunmise stressed that the retraining and recertification project had become even more urgent, given the high rate of accidents involving articulated vehicles. According to him, implementing the programme would drastically reduce crashes that have claimed lives and destroyed valuable property.
He further noted that successful execution of the project would boost the ministry’s performance score and urged the minister to prioritise funding for the retraining exercise.