268 die on Lagos-Benin road – FRSC

Posted by admin Headlines Sunday, November 20th, 2011

By Simon Ebegbulem, Benin City

THE Zonal Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr. Yakubu Attah, yesterday, raised the alarm over the spate of road accidents around the Ovia River, along the Benin-Lagos express road in Ovia North East Local Government Council of Edo State, just as he disclosed that no less than 268 lives have been lost along that Ovia section since July.

Attah, who disclosed this in Benin City during the flag off of the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) Preventive Road Maintenance and Survey Gang in the South South zone, stressed the need for more partnership between FERMA and the FRSC so as to curtail carnage on that highway.

According to him, “No amount of money can prevent accidents on our roads if we do not put things into proper perspective. I have always suggested that FERMA and the FRSC should work together for better results. The Ovia bridge area alone has claimed 268 lives in less than three months due to accidents, many of which are avoidable.

“Between July and October, that much number of Nigerians lost their lives along what ordinarily is a small portion of the Benin-Sagamu expressway.”

The Minister of Works, Arch.Mike Onolemenmen, who witnessed the occasion, traced the carnage along the Benin-Lagos express road to the recklessness of drivers. He however assured that work will be expedited on all such federal roads which he acknowledged constitute risk to Nigerians.

-Sunwp_posts