Ember Months: FRSC deploys multi-agency strategy in Kogi

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Kogi State has unveiled a comprehensive strategy to manage traffic congestion and reduce road crashes during the forthcoming Ember Months, warning that the last quarter of the year remains the most challenging period for road safety operations in the state.

Kogi State Sector Commander, Corps Commander Lawan Fagge, disclosed this on Wednesday at a stakeholders’ meeting on traffic management, control and road safety held at Government House in Lokoja, the state capital.

Fagge said the Ember Months, which coincide with increased commercial activities, religious celebrations and social events such as weddings, traditionally places enormous pressure on the road transport system, thereby heightening the risk of accidents.

He noted that the meeting was convened to strengthen collaboration among critical stakeholders and enhance the impact of the FRSC’s annual Ember Months campaign.

“The last quarter of every year has always been a challenging period in Kogi State due to increased vehicular and human traffic. These factors significantly raise the risk of road traffic crashes,” he said.

The Sector Commander commended the organising committee and the Kogi Sector Command for initiating the stakeholders’ engagement, stressing that proactive planning, strict enforcement, public enlightenment and rapid emergency response are key to mitigating road hazards during the period.

He outlined several measures to be implemented, including early morning deployment of personnel to prevent traffic gridlocks, particularly those caused by one-way driving, which he described as a major contributor to prolonged congestion.

Fagge also identified critical traffic bottlenecks across the state, including Nataco, Banda, Magajiya and Gaba Hills, where personnel would be stationed to ensure smooth vehicular movement and address recurring obstructions.

He said “As part of a coordinated response, FRSC will collaborate with sister agencies such as the Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), emergency medical services, fire service and state traffic management agencies to form a joint task force for effective traffic control”

The Special Adviser to Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo on Road Safety Matters and Chairman, Kogi State Road Safety Council, Dr Suberu Yusuf John in his speech, said the government was coordinating relevant security agencies and stakeholders to ensure smooth traffic flow, stressing that the objective was to ensure that “nobody sleeps on the road” during the festive season.

He said the state would regulate the movement of articulated vehicles by determining when they could operate on major routes, particularly during periods of anticipated heavy traffic, to protect road users and minimise congestion.

The Special Adviser said a joint task force comprising relevant government agencies and stakeholders would be deployed to monitor compliance with traffic regulations and respond promptly to emerging traffic challenges across the state.

He added that mobile courts and other enforcement mechanisms would be deployed to deal with traffic offenders, while the media would be mobilised to disseminate safety information and traffic-management directives to motorists and the general public.

Special Adviser to the governor on Federal Project Implementation, Engr. Obasi Emmanuel, said Federal road contractors had a major responsibility to minimise the hardship caused by construction activities, noting that prolonged closure of road sections had become a major source of congestion.

Emmanuel said directives from the Federal Ministry of Works required contractors on Federal highways to restrict closures to about one or two kilometres at a time, but some contractors had continued to close stretches running into several kilometres, worsening traffic congestion.