Anambra: Obiano Bans Selling of Alcoholic Drinks in Motor Parks

BY ABUCHI IFESINACHI, AWKA

In a bid to reduce road traffic crashes on the highways the Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano has put a final ban on the selling of alcoholic drinks in all the motor parks across the State.

Gov Obiano who was represented by Commissioner for Transport, Barr. Chuma Mbonu, stated this while declaring open 2014  Ember Months Awareness Campaign Flag-Off said the state had put necessary measures in place to ensure accident- free Christmas season noting that anyone who violates the order would be severely dealt with.

He  said that his administration was paying huge attention road infrastructure in the state as to ease traffic within the state.

He further said that part of his efforts was the construction of three bridges in Awka metropolis, saying that his government was very concerned about ensuring that roads in Anambra  were safe for all users.

He expressed the hope that with the level of cooperation of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), and other relevant agencies the people of the State would experience crashes-free as well as crime - free yuletide

He commended the FRSC for the good job they are doing in the State and assured them of its government support noting that Anambra State could not afford to allow Motor Parks alcoholic drinks sellers to destroy its citizens. He said the drivers after consuming excess hot drinks and hard drugs would grab the steering and began to drive recklessly thereby putting the lives of the passengers into serious danger.

Earlier in a remark, the FRSC zonal commanding Officer Mr. Charles Nsebong Akpabio who spoke on the theme of the campaign entitled “Road Safety is a Shared Responsibility it depends on you’' said there was need for strict adherence to safety regulations by motorists.

The commander said everyone must get involved in the business of road safety as there was nobody who does not use the roads as part of his journey.
He pointed out every motorist like any other human being has some element of insanity in him, adding that a good driver was one who drive with the mindset that other road users were ‘mad’.
Akpabio warned that the officers and men of the corps in the zone would be strict with the implementation of all safety rules and regulations
especially as the yuletide drew near the corner.
'All of us, over 170 million Nigerians are involved in this Safety business,  we make journeys on the roads directly or indirectly, so we must all join the campaign for safe motoring in Nigeria, 'he said.

'Lack of attention to simple regulations and most especially Speed violations alone cause more than 50 percent of crashes on our roads, so we are going to deploy radar guns, tranquilisers  in our patrol exercises to ensure that we reduce crashes by at least 25 percent this yuletide,’ Akpabio said

In an address of welcome , the Anambra State FRSC sector commander, Mr. Sunday Ajayi, called for the collaboration of all stakeholders including drivers, security agencies, and corps members to raise the awareness on road safety.

Ajayi, pointed out that corridors in Anambra were very important accesses to other States in the country and pledged to eliminate the gridlocks that hit the Onitsha end of the River Niger Bridge at Christmas
periods.
He thanked the Anambra government for their assistance to the FRSC in the provision of logistics for their operations and the training of drivers in its employ.

'The Anambra government has always provided the enabling environment for the command and we will continue to make effective use of such opportunities to achieve effective service delivery.

I therefore plead for the collaborationof all to make this festive period a successful operation and accident free,'he said.