FRSC BOSS CALLS FOR ACTIVATION OF INTER-MODAL TRANSPORT SYSTEM
Special Correspondent- Lagos
The Corp Marshall of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Nigeria, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi has advised, that the only solution to the problems of Nigeria’s transportation challenges is to adopt a multi-modal system, stressing that the pressure on road system is too high.
Dr Boboye also decried the non-implementation of the National Transport Policy (NTP), 29 years after it was drafted.
Speaking on the topic: “Improving Nigeria Transportation Systems: The Way Forward” at the 8th Nigeria Annual Transport Lecture held recently at Sheraton Hotel, Dr Oyeyemi said there is need for improvement of the inter-modal transport system.
Boboye warned that the road system is not only dominant but its preference, totalling 95 per cent of all modes, has serious road safety concerns in the form of traffic crashes and infrastructure decays
Noting that road crashes has increased, the Corps Marshal said “the pressure is too much on the road. Fatality has been on the high. We used to have an average of 100 lives lost on the roads weekly. Speed is a major aspect we need to address”.
The FRSC boss maintained that utilising other modes of transport, including air, water, road, pipeline and rail as an alternative will decongesting traffic gridlocks in coastal cities in the country, and also has the potential to boost the economy from travel tourism perspective.
According to him, there has not been a balanced development of the country’s transportation system,pointing out that increase in road construction activities and some developmental challenges being experienced by the other sectors of transportation, the movement of people, goods and services is dominated by road transport.
Proffering solutions for the inter-modal transport system to work, Boboye said “government should expand and upgrade existing air travel infrastructures so as to boost confidence in the industry with respect to air safety; encourage more investments to bring about healthy competition such that more people can opt for the mode as against the road especially for long distance travel. This will largely reduce ‘fatigue’ induced and tyre related crashes on the road”.
According to him, greater investments as a follow up of the MoU between NIWA, NEXIM and Sealink Promotional Co. Ltd should be activated.
He also canvassed for the dredging of identified potential water ways in the country to improve safety and enhance navigation amongst others.
Commending the efforts of the present government, Boboye said “government should continue to improve on existing security framework to enhance investors and customers confidence in all modes of transportation in the country. The current state of transportation in the country is an improvement on what it used to be”.
