The corps marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Boboye Oyeyemi, says that 90 per cent of articulated trucks plying the roads are over 30 years old.
Addressing members of the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) and Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) on a working visit in Lagos on Monday, Mr Oyeyemi said the vehicles were not roadworthy.
“Ninety per cent of the articulated vehicles on the roads across the country are over 30 years, which are not supposed to be and that is the main reason for crashes of these articulated vehicles.
“We want the NSC to collaborate with more stakeholders in setting as well as enforcing minimum standards for trucks and their drivers as part of measures to ensure free flow of traffic. And minimise incessant fall of heavy duty vehicles around port areas, especially Apapa, Lagos,” the FRSC corps marshal said.
The corps marshal added that the visit was to reinforce the robust relationship between the two agencies, especially with the appointment of a new Executive Secretary for the council.
“Most of the trucks are not adhering to minimum safety principles and standard, some of them break down at the middle of expressway thereby causing crashes in the night.
“The corps had signed a memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under the Road Transport Safety Standardisation Scheme (RTSSS) to collaborate and set standards for truck operations.
“It will also generate a database, conduct public education and enlightenment for truck operators, training of truck drivers and the implementation of Vehicle Transit Areas (VTAs) scheme in Nigeria,” Mr Oyeyemi said.
According to him, FRSC’s partnership with NSC over the years has yielded results in road traffic administration, hence the need for sustained collaboration.
He urged NSC to work with stakeholders to generate a database for traffic control, conduct public education and enlightenment for truck operators as well as train truck drivers on minimum safety standards.
