Ogun State Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has said that there is no mystery whatsoever surrounding the last four months of the year, often referred to as the “ember months” and road crashes.
The State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Corps Commander Akinwunmi Fasakin, said that the spike often experienced in ember months yearly is not a product of mystery or superstition but surge in vehicular and economic activities.
Speaking during the monthly congress of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ogun State Information Chapel, during their monthly congress at Olusegun Osoba Press Centre, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta on the theme: “Safety on Our Roads and the Ember Months Mystery,” Commander Fasakin urged Nigerians Nigerians to discard the long-held myth and superstition woven around ember months.
He explained that the rise in road crashes usually recorded during the ember months has nothing to do with superstition but with human, vehicular, and environmental factors with human factors being the dominant cause.
“The major reason we have an increase in the number of accidents during ember months is the surge in vehicular and economic activities on the roads during that period. Our target is to reduce crashes to the barest minimum,” he said.
He urged motorists and road users to obey safety guidelines such as avoiding overloading, over speeding, not drinking while driving and ensuring that vehicles are in good condition before embarking on journeys. According to him, safety on the road is not the responsibility of government alone, but a collective obligation of all.
He assured that the FRSC will continue to intensify its efforts by partnering with media organizations to enlighten the public on road safety practices.
Earlier in his remarks, Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ogun State Information Chapel, Comrade ‘Femi Osipitan, commended the Corps for its continuous efforts in sensitizing the public on road safety, pledging media’s support in amplifying safety messages to the public.
Responding, Messrs Suraj Popoola, Wale Osunbiyi, Gbenga Owolabi and Mrs. Jibola Taiwo lauded FRSC for its proactive and lives saving campaign, geared towards reduction of crashes on the road.
