FG SOLICITS STATE GOVERNMENTS’ SUPPORT TO FRSC

Reporter: CHUKWUBUIKE MADU

The Federal Government has called on states to support efforts and initiatives in the country’s road safety management.  The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha, made the call in a message to the inauguration of the administrative block of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Academy, Udi, Enugu State.

 The FRSC academy was established in 2006 at a temporary site in Jos, Plateau State before its relocation to the permanent site Udi, Enugu State in 2014. The Academy, which currently sits on a 35 hectare land, is been used for training and capacity building of FRSC personnel and officers of interested state traffic management agencies.

 Inaugurating the administrative block of the Academy, the SGF, Mr. Boss Mustapha, who was represented by a Director in his office, Mr. Jamiu Abdukalreem, expressed the hope that the academy would help reposition the corps in tackling traffic situations in the country and the sub-Saharan Africa for improved road transportation.

 He commended the Enugu State Government for its support to the construction of the administrative block and internal roads in the academy and urged other states to assist FRSC in efforts to reduce road crashes.

 “As we witness the inauguration of the Academy’s Administrative Complex, I am convinced that the establishment of FRSC Academy will continue to aid the realization of the FRSC vision. I have also noted with satisfaction all efforts being made by the current leadership to reposition and transform the Corps into a world class organisation.

“Let me at this juncture; appreciate the Enugu State Government under the leadership of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, for the showoff uncommon support to the corps. Your goodwill and that of the good people of Enugu State is highly acknowledged by the Federal Government. This purposeful partnership should, therefore, be emulated by other State Governments, organisations and individuals to enhance the country’s road safety management efforts, the SGF stated.

 The FRSC Corps Marshal, Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi said efforts were on to upgrade the Academy to a degree awarding institution and transform it to a regional centre of excellence for road safety management.

 The FRSC boss commended Enugu State Government for funding ninety percent of the administrative block and solely responsible for construction of internal roads in the academy as well as its earlier provision of the 35 hectres of land for the permanent site.

 He, however, appealed for extra 15 hectres of land from the State Government, explaining that the Nigeria Universities Commission (NUC) demanded that at least 50 hectres of land is the minimum standard for approving an institution to run such degree programmes.

“The management desired transforming the Academy to a modern and multi-purpose learning and research facility such that will give it and the nation an edge in Road Safety management continentally. It was designed that the Academy would upgrade to upgrade to a degree awarding institution, an affiliation to the Federal university of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) for the first two years.

“The process is at the verge of being accredited by the National universities Commission. Beyond it becoming a degree awarding institution, the Academy, with a recognition from the African Development Bank (AFDB), is also transforming to a Regional Centre of Excellence for Road Safety Management, to serve the West African Sub-region. The African Development Bank (AFDB) is working assiduously with the Corps to enable this,” Dr. Oyeyemi noted.

 The Chairman FRSC Board, Mr. Bukhari Bello, who described the academy as the only recognized institute on road safety management in Africa, applauded the Enugu State Government for its continuous assistance to the academy and the corps.

 Mr. Bello appealed to the Federal Government to address gully erosion threatening the academy.

 “We know we would not have achieved all these without the cooperation and collaboration with the Enugu State Government as well as the people of Enugu State. We also thank the Federal Government for its assistance that facilitated the building of this institute.

“However, I would also want to remind the Secretary to the Government of the Federation of the ecological problems of this site. I hope that the Office of the SGF will look at the ecological fund and assist us in taking care of the ecological challenges within this vicinity,” the FRSC board Chairman begged.

 Enugu State Governors, Chief Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, while noting that his administration gave ninety percent support for the construction of the administrative building, promised liaise with Udi Community leaders to provide the academy with more land and other necessary support.

 “We believe that construction of the administrative block and the internal road network of this academy by the Enugu State Government will facilitate achievement and objective of this institution. I assure you that Enugu State Government will continue to partner the Federal Road Safety Commission as the need arises,” the Governor promised.

 Imo State Deputy Governor, Professor Placid Njoku, who represented Governor Hope Uzodimma at the event presented goodwill message alongside representatives of other South-East Governors.