Road accidents claim 186 lives in Benue, others – FRSC

The Zonal Commanding Officer Zone RS4 Headquarters of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in charge of Plateau, Benue and Nasarawa States, Assistant Corps Marshal Ayobami Omiyale, on Monday disclosed that the zone has recorded 186 road traffic casualties in the first 24 weeks of 2019.

He said this figure was higher than the 157 deaths recorded in the same period in 2018.

Omiyale made the disclosure when he paid a courtesy call on the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Plateau Council, in Jos, the state capital.

According to him, “the most probable cause of the accidents are, loss of control, dangerous driving/overtaking, among others.”

The Zonal Commanding Officer listed the accident-prone routes in the zone to include Jos-Hawan Kibo, Pankshin-Mangu routes, all in Plateau State.

Another is the Makurdi-Lafia and Gboko-Makurdi routes in Benue State.

While the others are Keffi-Barde, Akwanga-Lafia and Garaku-Akwanga routes in Nasarawa State.

On the issuance of National Drivers’ Licence, the FRSC boss said, “In spite of the corps efforts in the production of the National Drivers’ Licence in sanitising the highways, the Zone as at week 25 of 2019 had a total of 6, 102 unclaimed Licences; Plateau (1, 368), Benue (2, 404) and Nasarawa (2, 330)”.

He however said the zone will commence the enforcement of motorcycle/tricycles number plates and riders’ licences from 1st August, 2019.

Meantime, the FRSC boss sued for collaboration with the media, adding that doing so will help in enlightening motorists and the citizenry about the activities of the Corps and will help save lives when the populace are enlightened.

Responding, Chairman of NUJ in the State, Comrade Paul, thanked Omiyale for the visit and assured the Corps of maximum collaboration from journalists.