Delta State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan has called for the training of drivers as a panacea to reducing accidents on Nigerian roads.
Speaking as a panelist in a programme tagged “Presidential Dialogue” organised as part of activities to mark 25 years of the existence of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) at Abuja yesterday, Governor Uduaghan observed that such training would reduce to a great extent, accidents on the road.
According to him, “most accidents on our roads are as a result of the carelessness of the drivers”, noting that some of the drivers get drunk before entering the road while others take drugs that will make them not to sleep only for the drug to fail them at the critical time.
He stressed that training would make the drivers adopt best practices accepted world-wide while on the road and also, understand road signs, disclosing that his administration was not only training drivers but also carrying out health checks on drivers.
Dr Uduaghan said the health checks is on the area of sight blood pressure, depression among others, reiterating that poor eye sights and hypertension are great causes of accidents on the road.
Besides, he advocated adequate care for drivers by their employers, especially in the area of welfare, noting that it was wrong for drivers to be deprived of sleep, food and their allowances.
President Goodluck Jonathan who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Pius Anyim, stated that the situation in the country informed government decision to factor safety issues into road construction.
Chairman of the occasion, Gen Ibrahim Babangida who was represented by Col. Habib Shuaibu stated that the FRSC remains one of his greatest legacies for Nigerians, because it came into being when road accidents in the country became so alarming.
The Corp Marshal and the Chief Executive of the FRSC, Osita Chidoka said the setting of the Corps in 1988 has reduced accidents on the roads noting that African countries were now emulating Nigeria.
Chidoka commended Governor Uduaghan for being conscious of the need for drivers to be properly trained.