From Dispatch Room
The Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady of Akwa Ibom State, Lady Helen Eno Obareki, has called for stronger collaboration in road safety management, stressing the need for strategic partnerships, sustained public enlightenment, and humane enforcement of traffic regulations.
She made the remarks while receiving a delegation from the Akwa Ibom State Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), led by Sector Commander Corps Commander Felicia Kalu, at Government House, Uyo.
Lady Obareki assured the FRSC of continued support from the Office of the First Lady in strengthening road safety awareness and reducing accidents across the state. She emphasised that road safety efforts must be reinforced through cooperation between institutions and communities.
As part of new intervention plans, she pledged collaboration with the FRSC on the construction of additional zebra crossings at strategic locations across Akwa Ibom State to improve pedestrian safety and reduce road accidents.
She also announced plans to support school safety initiatives, including the donation of reflective school bags to pupils, aimed at improving visibility and protecting children while commuting to and from school.
Obareki further urged FRSC officials to maintain professionalism and civility in enforcement, stressing that respectful engagement with motorists would encourage voluntary compliance with traffic laws.
She noted that public perception of road safety officers could be improved through sensitisation and better communication, describing FRSC personnel as key partners in safeguarding lives on the roads.
In response, FRSC Sector Commander Felicia Kalu commended the First Lady’s office for its continued support for vulnerable groups, especially children, and reaffirmed the Corps’ commitment to reducing road crashes and fatalities in the state.
Kalu highlighted key challenges affecting road safety, including inadequate road signage, missing zebra crossings, and insufficient speed control measures, which she said contribute to preventable accidents.
She outlined the FRSC’s enforcement strategy built around the “4 Es” — Engineering, Enforcement, Education, and Emergency Care — as a comprehensive approach to improving road safety outcomes.
The FRSC also proposed expanded public awareness campaigns, including the establishment of road safety clubs in schools, sensitisation programmes in churches and markets, quiz competitions, and driver-focused education at motor parks.
The visit concluded with the presentation of gifts to the Coordinator by the FRSC delegation, marking a renewed commitment to collaboration on road safety initiatives in the state.
— Newspot Nigeria
