The Committe of Youth on Mobilisation and Sensitisation (CYMS) has called on the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) to partner with the Committee on sensitisation and engagement of Youths in road safety.
The Director General, CYMS, Mr Obinna Nwaka made the call when he paid a courtesy visit to FRSC headquarters on Thursday in Abuja.
Nwaka said that CYMS as evaluation and monitoring arm with structures across the 37 states of the Federation including FCT would like to work with the Commission through youth engagement as volunteers.
According to him, this is imperative as a result of feedback and issues raised as a result of low personnel to mount the roads and streets, especially during festive season or ‘EMBER’ months.
“This scheme shall help to build or generate a unified database of Volunteer Road Marshals (VRM) through CYMS structures and networking with partners.
“Report shows that people within the age bracket 18-45 falls in the category of those perpetuating unethical acts in line with the Commissions guidelines such as one way driving, as well as lack of driving license, drunk while driving, intake of hard drugs, smoking and even doing drugs while driving.
“The sensitisation from an independent point of view shall help to instil discipline on them and the need to obey, support and respect the road safety rules and guidelines from a point of understanding.
“This programme shall help to assist in the engagement of Nigerians on the Commissions’ acts and to further support through our overall evaluation and report to the appropriate quarters, ” he said.
Nwaka, however, said that CYMS requested for a FRSC Liaison Officer, who would liaise and work closely with organisation through the Department of Security to ensure effective service delivery, monitoring & intelligent report and profiling.
“The above outlined fundamental request is imperative and shall help boost the Commissions service delivery through youth inclusion, ” he said.
Receiving the committe, The Corps Marshal, FRSC, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi commended the committe, saying that it was a welcome development.
Oyeyemi, who was represented by Deputy Corps Marshal, Special Duties and External Relations (SDER), Mr Hyginus Fuomsuk, said that the youth were the building blocks of the country.
According to him, whether we like it or not, the future belongs to the youth. Any interest you are showing in road safety is for your own benefit, others and the future generations to come.
“Looking at the statistics of road crashes globally, 1.3 per cent million of people die everyday and most vulnerable are the younger ones .
“This has become worrisome as they are the people that are expected to grow old and improve on what the elders are doing or had done.
“I believe that your involvement and engagement for voluntary participation in road safety is a welcome development.
“We will look at it as you have stated it, because if we can develop a good road safety culture at a younger age, then the future of road safety in Nigeria would be better.
“But if we decide to leave it and not attend to it now, generations to come will see it as a norm,” he said.
