Wale Jagun
In line with his administration’s commitment to Traffic Management and Transportation, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Wednesday inaugurated a 12-member State Road Safety Advisory Council (SaRSAC), to further work on solving the challenges of road safety in the State.
Speaking during the official inauguration of the State Road Safety Advisory Council (SaRSAC) held at the Lagos House, Marina on Wednesday, Governor Sanwo-Olu who chairs the Council with his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat as an alternate chairman, said the initiative demonstrated the commitment and premium his administration places on the lives of the citizens and to ensure safety on Lagos roads.
Other members of the 12-man Committee are; Commissioners for Transportation (Dr. Frederic Oladeinde), Health (Prof. Akin Abayomi) Education (Mrs Folasade Adefisayo), Environment (Mr. Tunji Bello), Finance (Dr. Rabiu Olowo), Justice and Attorney-General of the State (Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN), Economic Planning and Budget (Mr. Sam Egube); Special Adviser to the Governor on Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Aramide Adeyooye; Director of Vehicle Inspection Services (VIS), Akin-George Fashola; Lagos State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr. Olusegun Ogungbemide and member, Nigeria Society of Engineers, Engr. Olutosin Ogunmola.
The Governor said setting up of the SaRSAC is demonstration of his administration’s commitment to ensuring safety on Lagos roads through the implementation of the National Road Safety Strategy II, which encapsulates the key strategic elements that will provide direction for the 2019 – 2023 plan period.
He said objectives of the board included ensuring road infrastructure, comply with global standards, drafting the implementation of the road safety strategy, ensuring coordination between the state and local governments, development of funding plan for road safety, monitoring of funds disbursed for the initiative and ensuring representation at the national working group among other duties.
“Our administration places premium on safety of lives and property of the citizens and we have continued to demonstrate this commitment through the implementation of various policies and strategies aimed at making our roads safer for all” he said.
As a sub-national government, we have been in the fore-front in the implementation of global road safety strategies including the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety, which ended in 2020.
“Part of the strategies we are implementing include ensuring that our roads infrastructure complies with global standard for safety, capacity improvement of relevant agencies including Vehicle Inspection Services (VIS), Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA) and the State Fire Service.
“The primary responsibility of this Council which comprises principal road safety stakeholders is to drive the implementation of the National Road Safety Strategy (NRSS) in the State,” the Governor said.
The Governor charged members of the State Road Safety Advisory Council to contribute their quota to make the road safer.
Speaking earlier, the Commissioner for Transport, said the board was committed to address road safety challenges in line with the THEMES agenda.
Dr. Oladehinde urged Lagosians to support the Council in every way possible as they take ownership of the brainchild, which was created to save lives and property.
“Lagos State as a trailblazing state and in line with its THEMES agenda is today inaugurating a 12-man Lagos State Road Safety Advisory Council which will not only come forward with clear Road Safety blueprints but also stem the tide of road traffic crashes and its attendant socio-economic losses through fatalities and injuries in the South-West Region” the Commissioner said.
“The gathering of today bears eloquent testimony to unflinching determination of the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration to walk the talk in the Transport Sector and see to the actualisation of tangible deliverables in the sector. Little wonder that the Governor is by himself chairing this Advisory Council. That is a pointer to the Governor’s hands-on approach to leadership.”
