Metro
X-raying the Impact of NaRSAC on Seamless Implementation of Nigeria Road Safety Strategy Document II: FRSC Shehu Mohammed Perspective
By Olusegun Ogungbemide
The inauguration of the National Road Safety Advisory Council (NaRSAC) Committee by the Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Kashim Shettima, marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s quest for road safety.
The Federal Republic of Nigeria is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states, a Federal Capital Territory Abuja and 774 Local Government Areas. With a total of 923,768 square kilometres and human population of well over 170 million, Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa, the most populous black nation and currently the 7th most populous nation in the world.
The total road network which is estimated at 200,183km (comprising 36,183km federal, 32,000km State and 132,000km of Local roads) has earned Nigeria her rank as the country with the second largest road network in Africa as at 2019. Currently, more than 95% of urban transportation in Nigeria is done by road, and about 70% of these trips are by public transport.
This huge burden placed on road transportation sector makes it extremely herculean a task to handle the administration of safety, as well as management of traffic on Nigerian roads.
The fact remains that no single government, or agency of government left alone, can boast of having the sole capacity to combat the menace of road traffic crashes and entrench safety on the roads. That is why the task of road safety is basically a collective effort. It requires the combined efforts of both the public and private sector, civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations, religious bodies as well as traditional institutions amongst others.
This analysis brings to the fore, the potential impact of the NaRSAC Committee on the implementation of Nigeria Road Safety Strategy Document II as well as provides a comprehensive overview of the NaRSAC committee’s potential impact on Nigeria’s road transportation sector.
Recall that the United Nations embarked on Decade of Action against road crashes, injuries and fatalities in the break of the new millennium. This decade of action is anchored on safe system approach, leveraging on the 5 pillars namely; safer roads, safer road users, safer vehicles, road safety administration and post crash care. Apart from emphasizing on achieving reduction in road crashes by 50%, it also targets to achieve a universe where crashes result in zero death.
To achieve this feat, member countries were mandated to develop a strategy document spanning through a decade that would identify critical stakeholders, including all the tiers and arms of government and apportion responsibilities and roles to every key player. This led to the development of NRSS document. The idea behind it is to have an all inclusive approach to road safety in Nigeria, where everyone has a role to play.
The Nigeria Road Safety Strategy (NRSS) document II is the second edition of an action plan to improve road safety in Nigeria and align with safety management approach with global best practices. With the maiden edition (NRSS 2014-2018) reaching its terminal phase in 2018, a comprehensive review of the strategy was necessary, not just to pursue the adopted policy path, but also to enrich core contents, improve on implementation methodology, and generally consolidate the tremendous gains of the first edition.
Thus the NRSS II (2021-2030) advances the progress already made and charts a way forward. NRSS II, therefore, articulates the multi-sectoral activities that are necessary for the achievement of Nigeria’s much desired road safety and outlines the country’s roadmap for reducing road crashes and fatalities. The document identifies key strategies, including: Improving road infrastructure, Enhancing vehicle safety standards, Strengthening enforcement and regulation, as well as, Promoting public awareness and education.
The NaRSAC committee’s primary responsibility is to implement all strategic initiatives provided in the document as a guide on road safety implementation in Nigeria. They will also coordinate stakeholder engagement, monitor implementation progress and advise on resource allocation.
The committee’s inauguration will definitely usher in a new dawn for road safety in Nigeria. It is expected amongst others to enhance policy coordination and streamline road safety efforts across federal, state, and local governments; Improve stakeholder engagement by fostering collaboration among government agencies, private sector, and civil society organizations; boost implementation, as well as accelerate progress toward achieving the Strategy Document’s goals, and also Increase resource allocation by attracting funding and resources from government, private sector, and international partners.
As the lead agency that superintends over the administration of safety in the country, the Federal Road Safety Corps has already commenced putting all necessary measures in place to ensure a seamless implementation of the strategies in the document. Under the leadership of the present Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed deployment of technology as well as staff capacity development programmes have been introduced. This is to ensure that the staff are well prepared to handle the technological aspect of the combat mission against crashes on our roads.
With the inauguration of this committee, the Corps, as well as the country is set for better days and it is hoped that the members will wake up to the task ahead and commit their time to the realisation of the mandate of the Committee.
In addition to the aforementioned impacts of this inauguration, the corporate strategic goal of the Corps projected to reduce road crashes in Nigeria by 5% at the end of 2024 has actually gotten a credible boost and the Corps will sure take absolute advantage of this development to make Nigerian roads safer than they already are.
Obviously, the Corps now has a greater commitment of requesting from all stakeholders to share in the vision that Road Safety as an agenda needs more attention, more care, and more funding.
We are absolutely committed to improving our visibility, performance, rescue response time, technology driven operations, and respect for law-abiding road users. So that together as we enjoy shared responsibilities as stakeholders we can do more, we can do better and we can save more lives and properties of Nigerian citizens for the ultimate economic growth and development of our Nation.
Let me congratulate the motoring public, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and of course, the Federal Road Safety Corps for this great achievement.
Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of the Federal High Court in Lagos has scheduled February 27 for the arraignment of Gbolahan Obanikoro, the son of Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, and four other individuals over alleged conspiracy, obtaining by false pretenses, and involvement in a N1,356,057,330.43 billion fraud.
Others to be arraigned alongside Obanikoro are: Adejare Adegbenro, 51; Balmoral International Limited; M.O.B. Integrated Limited; and DDSS International Company Limited.
Justice Lewis-Allagoa set the date on Friday after the defendants failed to appear for their scheduled arraignment.
The Inspector General of Police, through the Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) in Ikoyi, Lagos, has accused all the defendants of conspiring between May and September 2013 to fraudulently obtain the sum of N1,356,057,330.43 from Access Bank Plc (formerly Diamond Bank). They allegedly misrepresented themselves to the bank’s staff and officers, claiming they were involved in the business of importing cars from Dubai for sale in Nigeria, and that the money was needed to finance the importation of a set of brand-new cars for resale.
The defendants are also accused of converting, transferring, retaining, or taking possession of the funds, knowing or having reason to know that such funds were proceeds of unlawful activity. Additionally, they are alleged to have unlawfully converted the sum of N1 billion belonging to the bank for personal use.
At the hearing on Friday, prosecutor M.Y. Bello informed the court that the matter was scheduled for the arraignment of all defendants. However, he requested a new date to allow all the defendants to appear in court and take their pleas.
Counsel for the defendants, Joshua A., explained that his clients were not in the country. He added that only the companies named in the charge had been served with the charge sheet. He assured the court that all defendants would be present at the next adjourned date to take their pleas.
In light of these submissions, Justice Lewis-Allagoa adjourned the matter to February 27 for the arraignment of all the defendants.
The five-count charge against the defendants reads: “That you, Adejare Adegbenro, Gbolahan Obanikoro, Balmoral International Limited, M.O.B. Integrated Limited, DDSS International Company Ltd, and other directors of the companies (now at large), between May and September 2013 in Lagos, with intent to defraud, conspired to commit felony, specifically obtaining money by false pretenses, and thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 8(i)(a) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offenses Act, No. 14 of 2006.
“That you, Adejare Adegbenro, Gbolahan Obanikoro, Balmoral International Limited, M.O.B. Integrated Limited, DDSS International Company Ltd, and other directors of the companies (now at large), between May and September 2013 in Lagos, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N1,356,057,330.43 (One Billion, Three Hundred Fifty-Six Million, Fifty-Seven Thousand, Three Hundred Thirty Naira, Forty-Three Kobo) from Diamond Bank (now Access Bank Plc) by falsely representing through its staff and officers that you and your companies were in the business of importing cars from Dubai for sale in Nigeria. Based on this false representation, the bank released the money as a loan, which you then diverted to your personal use. This action is contrary to Section 1(i)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offenses Act, No. 14 of 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
“That you, Adejare Adegbenro, Gbolahan Obanikoro, Balmoral International Limited, M.O.B. Integrated Limited, DDSS International Company Ltd, and other directors of the companies (now at large), between May and September 2013, in Lagos, directly or indirectly converted, transferred, retained, or took possession or control of N1,356,057,330.43 (One Billion, Three Hundred Fifty-Six Million, Fifty-Seven Thousand, Three Hundred Thirty Naira, Forty-Three Kobo) belonging to Diamond Bank (now Access Bank Plc), knowing or having reason to know that such funds were proceeds of an unlawful act. This action is contrary to Section 18(2)(b) and (d) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
“That you, Adejare Adegbenro, Gbolahan Obanikoro, Balmoral International Limited, M.O.B. Integrated Limited, DDSS International Company Ltd, and other directors of the companies (now at large), sometime in May 2019 in Lagos, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N1,000,000,000.00 (One Billion Naira) from Diamond Bank (now Access Bank Plc) by falsely representing through its staff and officers that you and your company, DDSS International Company, were in the business of importing cars from Dubai for sale in Nigeria. The bank released the money to you as a loan, which you subsequently diverted to the account of another company, Balmoral International Limited, to disguise the true origin of the funds. This action is contrary to Section 1(i)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offenses Act, No. 14 of 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
“That you, Adejare Adegbenro, Gbolahan Obanikoro, Balmoral International Limited, M.O.B. Integrated Limited, DDSS International Company Ltd, and other directors of the companies (now at large), sometime in May 2019, in Lagos, directly or indirectly converted, transferred, retained, or took possession or control of N1,000,000,000.00 (One Billion Naira) belonging to Diamond Bank (now Access Bank Plc), knowing or having reason to know that such funds were proceeds of an unlawful act. This action is contrary to Section 18(2)(b) and (d) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
Abuja, the nation’s federal capital, came alive with joy and excitement on Wednesday as a new set of winners in the ongoing Globacom Festival of Joy promotion received mouth-watering prizes they won at a special presentation ceremony held at the premises of Globacom at Aminu Kano Crescent.
A glittering brand new Toyota Prado, a brand new Kia Picanto, tricycles (Keke Napep) and scores of other prizes including power generating sets, sewing machines and grinding machines were handed over to joyful winners.
Sarah Ilya Madu was presented the keys to her brand-new Toyota Prado by Senator Simon Lalong, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Youth Development, supported by a stellar cast of celebrities and influencers.
Sarah, a federal civil servant from Borno State, who emerged winner of the Toyota Prado in the draw of the promotion held in Abuja last Friday, expressed shock when she was called up. She dropped the call from Globacom several times because the news was too good to be believed.
She said, “I was prevailed upon by my colleagues to do a video call with the Glo staff who called me. Even when I saw the office environment, I was still doubtful.” She added that when she eventually agreed to visit the Glo office, she went with a hefty colleague just in case she was being set up.
Ufot Victor, a 43-year-old businessman based in the FCT, was expectant about winning as he had been recharging regularly so as to cross the minimum requirement for a car. Winning a brand new Kia Picanto was a huge reward for his dedication.
Other lucky winners also went home with tricycles (Keke), power generating sets, sewing machines and grinding machines. Ireimiya Mallo, a SIM registration agent and native of Nasarawa State, who won Keke, said, ”I was so joyful on learning I had won a Keke”. He disclosed that he would be deploying it for commercial purpose”, while the winner of a power generating set, Felix Gabriel, thanked Globacom for always remembering Nigerians every year in its annual promos.
The Special Guest, Senator Simon Lalong, praised the Chairman of Globacom for putting the promo in place for Nigerians and also extolled his strong support for sports. He said he would love to be a winner in the Glo promo one day soon. Also Senator Yemi Adaramodu, the spokesman of the Senate and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Youth Development, said Globacom has always been a brand after his heart, adding that the network is not just attracting customers but also giving out to show that it means well not only for the customers but also for Nigerians.
In his remarks at the event, Globacom’s Head of Division, North West, Mr. Kazeem Kaka, said that to participate in the Festival of Joy promo, new and existing subscribers should dial *611# so as to opt into the promo and to keep recharging thereafter to meet the threshold for the various prizes. He added that new subscribers can participate immediately by purchasing a new SIM, registering it and dialing *611#.
Guests at the event included representatives of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), Mariam Imam, Assistant Director, Consumer Affairs at the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), Moses Iyi; comedians, Tee A, Seyi Law, and Gordons.
Others were Nollywood duo of Ebube Nwagbo and Juliet Ibrahim as well as popular content creator, Kiekie.
U.S immigration and border officials will be able to arrest migrants at so-called “sensitive” locations again, after the Trump administration overturned policies limiting where such arrests could happen.
Officers will now be able to make arrests at designated “sensitive” areas, including houses of worship, schools, and hospitals.
Officials have been prohibited from doing this since 2011.
Later, the Biden administration expanded the regulation, further restricting the authority’s powers.
“Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest,” the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement.
“The Trump Administration will not tie the hands of our brave law enforcement, and instead trusts them to use common sense.”
A second directive reinstates the ability for the U.S. to quickly deport any undocumented person arrested who is unable to prove they have been in the country for more than two years.
