FRSC moves for safer road infrastructure, inaugurates nRAP committee

The Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, has inaugurated a committee on the proposed establishment of the National Road Assessment Programme (nRAP) aimed at enhancing safer road infrastructure and reduction in fatal road accidents.

A statement by the Corps Public Education Officer, Bisi Kazeem, quoted the corps marshal as saying that the Road Assessment Programme is an international concept and practice that had gained acceptance in regions and countries around the globe.

According to the FRSC boss, the concept aimed at enhancing existing road safety engineering practice and creating safe road infrastructure for all road users.

He explained that the programme was a deliberate effort by concerned authorities to assess road infrastructure with a view to improving the safety of roads.

“The main focus of RAP is placed on improvement of roads for vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, two and three wheeler vehicles,” the statement added.

Oyeyemi said upon creation of the nRAP, Nigeria would become an affiliate of the African Regional body and by extension a component of the International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP)

He congratulated members of the new group for being part of the committee which evolved from the need to encourage maximum collaboration and coordination of strategic infrastructure investment. Oyeyemi urged them to make meaningful contributions that would enrich the process and improve on our road safety.

According to him, as challenging as the problems bedevilling safer road infrastructure are, the task of road safety is still achievable if requisite research, technology and expertise are adequately harnessed.

He said the establishment of nRAP would not only be a step in the right direction towards the realisation of Pillar 2 of the United Nations Decade of Action on road safety 2021-2030, but also lead to the domestication of the iRAP strategies.

The members pledged commitment to the realisation of the mandate bestowed on them, noting that the nRAP was a veritable programme that would enhance the standards of road infrastructures in Nigeria.

Apart from the FRSC team, the stakeholders committee inaugural meeting had in attendance Dr Remix Adewunmi, representing the National Institute of Transport Technology; Garba Aliyu, representing the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Mr Sita Onyelekwe from the Road Sector Development Team of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, and Amos GC who represented Nigeria Institute of Highway and Transportation Engineering, among others.