4th June, 2011
Bad road, illicit drugs usage and the mindset of drivers have been identified as the three major causes of the alarming road accidents in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.
The Federal Road Safety Commission dropped this hint during a recent seminar for Keke NAPEP operators held at the Surulere unit of the command in Iponri, Lagos.
Speaking on the theme ‘Say No To Overloading’, the unit commander, Mr Gregory Drambir said that the accidents on the roads could be drastically reduced if Keke NAPEP riders adhere to the rule of not carrying more than three passengers at the back of their tricycles.
According to him, some of the riders in an attempt to make more money could carry four passengers instead of the recommended three and at the end exposed themselves and the passengers to the risk of accidents.
In his submission, Mr M. Bello, the zonal Representative stressed that a good driver, whether commercial or private is a person who is careful while driving on the road.
The person is not expected to drink paraga (a local gin laced with herbs), smoke cigarette or Indian hemp or carry over his anger from to the wheel, saying that this is capable of causing accidents on the road.
Madam Larry Agugor, speaking in pidgin English on the effects of overloading lamented that in the past, some married men had lost their lives while driving under the influence of alcohol, illicit drugs, or got angry while behind the wheels.
She appealed to the operators to drop the habit of always washing their mouth every morning with illicit drinks, cigarette and alcohol before getting behind the wheels for the business of the day as these could be disastrous for the man and his family.
The seminar, which was attended by about 300 Keke NAPEP operators in Surulere area was sponsored by Alhaji Bode Oshodi, chief executive officer, First Step Technologies Limited.
Also in attendance were Bello A.O, a FRSC officers Bello A.O., Bwarama A and Mrs G Dan Fulani.
Others are Alhaji Mufutau Mogaji, chairman, Association of
Tricycle Operators, Cele unit and Bashiru Iyanda, chairman, Three Wheelers Tricycle Operators, Costain unit, among others.
By Emmanuel Udom