Vice President Kashim Shettima on Friday, inaugurated National Road Safety Advisory Council (NaRSAC).
Gatekeepers News reports that the inauguration ceremony took place at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Shettina charged them to align with global best practices in reducing traffic crashes, set National Road Safety Strategy targets, and ensure effective coordination between federal, state, and local governments to achieve shared road safety objectives.
The Vice President spoke of the critical nature of road safety, saying, “Road safety is not merely a matter of policy but a critical part of the lifeline that connects the people of this nation.”
He praised Federal Road Safety Corps’s (FRSC) commitment, noting that the Corps has “consolidated a robust strategy to address the nation’s road traffic challenges” in its relatively short existence.
The establishment of NaRSAC aligns with recommendations from the World Bank Country Capacity Review, which identified areas for improvement in Nigeria’s road traffic administration and safety management.
Shettima urged FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed to embrace these recommendations as “a catalyst for the much-needed reforms in this sector.”
The VP also commended the seamless coordination between federal and state executives, as well as various government agencies adding that, “This spirit of unity exemplifies the essence of working together for the common good.”
The Vice President noted that the initiative is in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s promise to strengthen administrative capacities across government bodies.
He said, “am confident that this intervention will enhance our transportation system and contribute to sustainable economic growth in Nigeria.”
VP Shettima emphasised the role of the newly inaugurated council members in “setting National Road Safety Strategy targets and ensuring coordination between the federal, state, and local governments in achieving our shared road safety objectives.”
Earlier in his remarks, Corps Marshal of Federal Road Safety Corps and secretary of the advisory council, Shehu Mohammed said inauguration of the body opens a new vista in road safety management in Nigeria, including fast-tracking the implementation of the Nigeria Road Safety Strategy (NRSS) which is the country’s response to the call for safe use of the road.
Shettima noted that inauguration of the council underscores the commitment of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in safeguarding the lives of property of citizens on the roads, noting that the implementation of the NRSS provides a clear direction towards achieving the vision for road safety, using the globally accepted “safe system approach” for managing road safety.
He further references the effective implementation of NRSS as a top priority of the Council, saying that Nigeria now has an opportunity of reducing to zero deaths, the number of casualties recorded in road traffic crashes.
The NaRSAC has
Vice President Kashim Shettima is the chairman of the newly inaugurated council. Its members which were drawn from six Governors, one representing each of the six geo-political zones are Ministers of Transportation, Works, Health, Justice, Education, Finance, Environment, Police Affairs, Interior, Budget and Economic Planning, FCT, Information and Labour & Productivity.
Others are National Security Adviser, President of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), and the Nigerian Society of Engineers.
