Today's News: FG initiates Bill on transport reform

FG initiates Bill on transport reform

 

The Minister of Transport, Senetor Idris Umar, said the Federal Government has initiated a Transport Reform Bill aimed at encouraging the participation of state and local governments in the sector. Umar, who stated this at a conference on 'The Use of Road and Accident Prevention Techniques' in Abuja on Thursday, said the draft would soon be transmitted to the National Assembly.

He said government was constructing, maintaining and rehabilitating more roads, including showing more commitment towards reactivating the rail system to reduce pressure on the roads.

According to him, the Federal Government has started the construction of new standard gauge lines and promoting inland waterways transport to provide cheaper means of transportation to the people.

"Government is also committed to implementing the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety programme as an action against road traffic accidents and reduction of fatalities by 50 per cent by 2020."

He added that the UN policy was aimed at reducing the number deaths and injuries in the country. "On our part, this will go a long way in making our roads safer in accordance with the vision of the UN," he said.

The minister said the causes of road traffic accidents included speed, bad roads and impatience of motorists. He expressed the hope that the conference would change the behavioral patterns of road users and improve safety.

"This conference is organised appraise the negative behavioral tendencies of road users, examine the knowledge and skills gap among road users and traffic law enforcement officials," he said.

Umar stressed the need for motorists to change their negative attitude to driving by observing and complying with traffic rules and regulations.

"I am also charging motorists to ensure constant maintenance of their vehicles, avoid drinking alcohol before and during driving, obey traffic rules and regulations and avoid speed.

"They should ensure that they are in a sound condition before embarking on a journey and avoid reckless driving," he said.

He added that traffic officials must intensify efforts towards enforcing traffic laws and regulations to reduce the rate and menace of road traffic accidents in the country.

The National President of Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, Dr Abubakar Sadiq, said the conference would achieve its objective through knowledge-sharing and information among road users.

Sadiq said road accident statistics showed that deaths from traffic situations were higher than deaths associated with HIV and AIDS.

He urged the stakeholders to put in more efforts to improve road infrastructure and strive towards enforcement of traffic regulations, with penalty for defaulters.

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