The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in collaboration with the Nigeria Shippers Council (NSC), on Thursday commenced North-West Truck Transit Park (TTP) sensitisation rally in Kaduna.
FRSC Corp Marshal, Dr Oyeyemi Boboye, said that the establishment of TTP scheme was key towards improving road safety and security of cargoes.
“Statistics shows that the country has recorded several cases of road traffic crashes involving tankers and trailers from haulage business with causes ranging from driver’s fatigue, over speeding, drinking while driving, among others.
“The collaboration with NSC in the flag off was to ensure safety in all aspects of haulage operations in Nigeria,” he said.
Boboye who was represented by ACM Victor Nwokolo, added that the need for the sensitisation of stakeholders was to ensure usage of the TTPs whenever it is provided.
“The MoU with NSC was also to sensitise the relevant agencies including private companies, organisations and the government on the need to build transit parks to enable proper use of the it for safety haulage in Nigeria.
“It would also help us set standards for truck drivers, engage in public education and enlightenment, generation of database that will enhance the establishment of TTP along major corridors, Boboye said.
He added that the sensitisation would be sustained to other zones where in the next quarter it would be carried out in Enugu State for the South-East zone.
“The sensitisation would be a regular exercise until when we achieve the level of safety which is required in haulage operations including lectures on proper maintenance of their vehicles and their road worthiness,” Boboye said.
The Executive Secretary of NSC, Hassan Bello, said that the purpose of NSC collaborating with FRSC was as a result of the discovery of high rate of cargoes from sea ports who come on land engaging in crashes.
Bello who was represented by the Director of Inland Transport Services of NSC, Mr Nathaniel Makinde, also said that the collaboration would minimise issues of safety and security of cargoes on transit.
“We signed an MoU with the FRSC in order for us to ensure enforcement of parking in proper places which would be the TTPs, doing this would make us enhance our mandates as Federal Government agencies to ensure usage of the TTPs for safety of cargoes,” Bello said.
The theme of the rally is: “Truck Transit Park: A Panacea for Crash-Free Haulage Operations in Nigeria.”