Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, security agencies and other stakeholders in the road safety and transport sectors, have commended the State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) for maintaining sanity on roads in the state.
The 2-Day event, which is the 7th edition of the Annual TRACE Commanders’ Conference and Retreat for Senior TRACE officers, saw the agency holding strategic sessions for capacity building and improved service delivery for the commanders at the colloquium, which was held between Wednesday, 14th December and Thursday, 15th December, 2022 in Abeokuta.
The retreat has the theme: ‘Capacity building- Ogun State Strategic Transport Master Plan: Role of TRACE, while Its sub theme, to reflect the season is tagged: “Yuletide: Zero Tolerance for Road Crashes.’
The governor who noted that the training and retraining of the officers and men of the TRACE was commendable, said this would put them in good stead to discharge their duties professionally and effectively.
Governor Abiodun who was represented by his Special Adviser on Security, AIG Sola Subair (retd) urged the TRACE operatives to be firm but fair and courteous while on the road.
He said, “Don’t be intimidated while carrying out your duty. However, you must be firm but fair and courteous, you must eschew double standard and corruption.
“You must read and be familiar with the Road Traffic Act. The state government has invested so much in you, and you have to portray the good image of the state.”
The governor further stated that TRACE should work to reduce road crashes in the state, if not totally eradicate them.
In her contribution, the Ogun State Commander, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Mrs Archie-Abia Ibinabo, said the agency “is committed to ridding the state’s motor parks, market and other black spots in the state of illicit drugs and other substances to reduce road crashes and drug-based crimes.”
The General Secretary of Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, Ogun State Chapter, Comrade Tiwalade Akingbade, noted that road safety is everyone’s business, and promised that the RTEAN will partner TRACE in taking the road safety drive to their drivers in different zones of the state.
He commended TRACE commander, ‘Seni Ogunyemi, for the initiative.
The state Commissioner of Police, Lanre Bankole espoused the synergy between the the police and the TRACE in the state, especially in the area of traffic management, and hinted that the synergy would be sustained.
He was represented at the event by the officer in charge of the State Traffic Division, Christy Okpakoro.
From the medical angle, the state Chairman, Nigeria Medical Association, Dr. Adekunle Ashimi, said there is the need for motorists to take their health status seriously before embarking on a journey.
He said for every individual above 40 years, the muscles of the eyes begin to get weak, and this makes it imperative for eye test for motorists and drivers.
Ashimi who was represented by Dr Popoola Mutiu, also broached the challenge of drug abuse by some drivers.
The state Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety.Corps, Ahmed Umar said the FRSC and TRACE always collaborate in carrying out sensitisation programmes at motor parks and garages in the state.
Umar, who was represented by Superintendent Route Commander, Irewole Opadiran, said, “FRSC and TRACE work hand in hand to save lives on our roads.”
On his part, The Secretary, Ogun State Taxi Drivers Association, Mr Babatunde Balogun, commended the programme, stating that the members had carried out palliative works on some roads by filling them with quarry and granite to ensure smooth flow of traffic.
He also called on the government to fix bad roads in the state as they contribute to road crashes too.
During his own remarks, Ogun State Amotekun Commander, CP David Akinremi(retd), said sensitisation programme on safety on the roads should be regular and not restricted to ember months.
He warned TRACE operatives to think of their own safety while on the roads, and avoid unnecessary risk which could prove fatal.
“You have to be abreast of the law guiding the operations of TRACE, and Road Traffic Act.
“Avoid using your chest to intercept vehicles because you don’t know the state of mind of the driver you are trying to stop. You must think of your safety.”
Other representatives from military and para-military among other stakeholders, spoke at the event, with all calling for caution, observing and applying of safety rules, while on the road, particularly during the yuletide season..
