Director-General of the State Security Services, Mr. Ekpeyong Itah,
has described the new number plate project as a catalyst in the
collective push to combat terrorism and other national security
challenges facing the country.
Speaking during an advocacy visit by Wolrd Bank road safety
consultants, Itah expressed his delight with the World Bank initiative
of integrating safety components on road rehabilitation and construction
in Nigeria as it would add value to traffic enforcement and proper
identification of vehicle owners, across the country.
The Director-General said these innovations had made Nigeria an
investment destination which would no doubt provide the potentials for
socio-economic development.
Earlier in his presentation, the FRSC Corps Marshal and Chief
Executive, Osita Chidoka said the World Bank consultants were in Nigeria
for a review of the FRSC enforcement capacity, in line with the World
Bank Safe corridor project which seeks to infuse road safety components
into road construction and rehabilitation in Nigeria.
Also speaking, the World Bank Consultant, Minze Beuving, expressed
his delight at the level of data collation and management by the FRSC
and road infrastructure in the FCT but urged the Federal Government to
re-double efforts in the area of traffic enforcement bordering on speed
limit and use of safety helmet.
In a related development, the Minister for Works, Mr. Mike Onolememe
has said that Nigeria enjoyes a rewarding partnership with the World
Bank in the area of road development projects which has contributed
immensely to the rehabilitation of numerous black spots along various
sections of the highways and will serve as an impetus for a 50%
reduction of road crashes in Nigeria.
According to the Minister, World Bank is presently funding the
construction of 6 pedestrian bridges at strategic locations in the FCT
to add value to safer road use in the metropolis and urged the global
financial institution to replicate the safe corridor parts project in
other of the country.
The World Bank consultants were also at the National Assembly to
interface with the Senate Committee on Federal Character and
Inter-Governmental Affairs and House Committee on Road Safety to push
for stronger legislative framework to enhance the capacity for the
Federal Road Safety Corps to effectively discharge its statutory
mandate.
