— Warn Against Drunk Driving
By Amuche Agbo, Abakaliki
Following the increase cases of road crashes recorded in some quarters in Ebonyi State, the Sate Police Command Thursday advised commercial drivers and other road users to jettison reckless driving to improve lives and economic growth of the State.
The State Traffic Officer of the Command,Andrew Eze, gave the advise during a sensitization on security and safety of road users, entitled, “the role of drivers and other road users in crime fighting” as organized by UDISAM Motors at the International Conference Center Abakaliki, the State Capital.
While addressing the people, Eze said the safety of the road users operating in the state are very paramount and advised drivers to be vigilant and security conscious in the discharge of their duties to safeguard their lives and passengers.
The Traffic Officer who earlier condemned drunk driving strongly, observed that countless number of persons have lost their lives through the process, and called on the people to desist from it totally for their own interest.
He challenged drivers to drive with license and embrace culture of safety on the roads, as well as, work in synergy with Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to reduce road accident in the state and the country at large.
The Security boss called on the Chief Executive officer of UDISAM to as a matter of urgency reorient his drivers on the importance of safety while applying on the roads.
He further admonished the people to avoid carrying passengers on the road sides instead of using designated parks as it increases cases of unwarranted accident and other forms of killing in the society while advising them to be law abiding citizens and discharge their duties diligently to curb the menace.
He assured that police officer would continue to work in harmony with drivers in all the nooks and crannies of the state as they pursue one course and directed the drivers to alert the command whenever any police man maltreated them on the road in their right.
On his part, the representative of the Sector Commander in Ebonyi State, Ike Eze noted that safety on the road was encompassing and called on drivers, tricyclists and motorcyclists to make the total observance of traffic their priorities and operate with valid driving license.
He also cautioned them against over speeding and pledged to work with them to attain the set objective.
However, the Speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly Francis Nwifuru represented by the Leader of the House Victor Chukwu described the exercise as a welcome development and charged the drivers to drive careful and promised to give them support when need arises.
Earlier in his remark, the Chief Executive Officer of UDISAM Mr. Igwe James who was visibly happy over the sensitization commended police and FRSC for their joint efforts geared towards eliminating crimes and extortion on the road among his drivers.
He congratulated the State Governor Engr. David Umahi for given them the level play ground to operate and assured that his people would remain law abiding citizens and supportive to his polices and programmes for the overall development of the State.
Meanwhile, the Managing Director diligence oil and gas Limited Mr. Onyemerela Oluchukwu stressed that drivers should continue going for such workshop so as to get acquainted with model rules and called on the State Government to give them fair treatment to improve their workforce.
The sensitization drew the presence of the representative of the State Governor, Deputy Governor, Commissioner for Internal Security, Boarder Peace and Conflicts Resolution and the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters among other top government functionaries.
Highlights of the event were distribution of honorary awards to the distinguished personalities and cultural display by groups.