The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has cautioned motorists against competition on the highway during Ember months.
Mr Taiwo Sulaiman, the Unit Commander, Badagry Command of FRSC, gave the warning at the 2022 Ember Months Flag-off Campaign, organised by the command on Saturday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the campaign is: ”Avoid Speeding, Over-loading and Unsafe Tyres to Arrive Alive”.
Highways are not for competition, let us avoid speeding, over-loading and all forms of distraction while driving.
Ember months are characterised by a lot of festivities, resulting to an increase in human and vehicular movement, said Sulaiman.
The commander said that his command began intense public enlightenment, education and sensitisation of motorists and road users on proper use of the highways.
He added that this was done against the mistaken believe that ember months were evil.
He also urged motorists to avoid night driving and operate within stipulated speed limits during the period.
Furthermore, Sulaiman noted that if these instructions were heeded, there would be less number of crashes on highways during ember months.
The Apapa Unit Commander of the FRSC, Mr Sikiru Aduloju, while speaking, urged drivers to refrain from exceeding speed limits, which could lead to unnecessary loss of lives.
The Sector Commander, Lagos Command, Mr Olusegun Olugbemide, represented Aduloju.
He said that the command had embarked on advocacy and enlightenment programme to schools, motor parks, Churches, Mosques and other public places.
He advised commercial drivers and other road users to always respect and observe road safety laws.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for House of Representatives, Badagry, Prince Sesi Whingan, lauded the command on its efforts in reducing road crashes on the highways.
He also promised to give all necessary support to the corps to ensure a safe motoring environment.
Whingah, further called on government to provide more logistics for the corps to enable them to perform optimally.
Chief Akeem Sanni,, the Chairman, Lagos State Parks and Garage Management, Seme-Kweme branch, lauded the command for the repeated enlightenment programmes for the commercial drivers.
According to him, the enlightenment would make them to be more cautious on the roads.
He also promised to partner the command to educate commercial bus drivers in order to bring sanity to their operations.