TOWARDS SAVING LIVES AND SAFER ROADS

Incidentally it was Christmas day. Early around 6am in the morning, I heard a screeching noise of a moving vehicle and an accompanying thudding sound. It was an accident and it was a ghastly one. Three men on an okada had just been hit by a hit and run driver and the driver escaped. Quite dark it was and there was no street lighting, even if the victims had a chance they wouldn’t have been able to steal a glance at the dashing car’s plate number. Who does not know who between the two parties was to blame though a run away driver gives very little reason to be free of guilt.

One would think that with the frequency of similar incidents on the same road that maybe the road was bewitched or unduly synonymous with car accidents but over the news, on the pages of the newspapers it seems to be the same story. Before the Christmas break for instance, around Maryland, Ikeja an okada overrun by a tanker maybe another incident of a failed break system. This kind of incidents was not strange in the state.

Accidents are so common in our country that it seems to betray a claim for the valuing of human life. For instance even though reports and statistics have shown that the non-usage of helmets was a major cause of deaths in cases of fatal head injuries of okada riders involved in accidents, very few okada riders have helmets talk less of their passengers. It seems the operation of okadas is just another vehicle to generate money without concern for the instruments through which this revenue comes about. In a visit to Calabar, Cross River State, it was quite a sight to see both okada riders and passengers all adorning their helmets. Though this might have been possible after a series and session of coercion and concerted public awareness efforts, any society that expects people to do what is right without some form of coercion and enforcement and the consciousness of fear of punishment must be in a dream. Nigeria, please do wake up. Or maybe not a dream but a vision, as we have been hearing about a lot of them nowadays. From 2000, 2010, 2020 and now even possibly 2050. That is if you will still be around by then.

With an overview of the positive incident in Calabar, one wonders why it isn’t possible in Lagos. But all things are possible to those who believe as ardent Christians would chant. At least before all our eyes, the hosting of the Nigeria 99 Sporting Tournament saw Oshod unbelievably clean, neat and orderly. Yes all things are possible so rather than harassing okada riders and just collecting or extorting money from them courtesy of NURTW, authorities concerned can look into this area. Helmets could be good for us though we also have to do something. I remember reports and claims of people turning to birds or disappearing when they wore or were forced by okada riders in Lagos to wear their helmets. Should okada passengers now carry their own helmets? That however is another case for discussion.

Okay non-usage of helmets could be disastrous but what about inadequate street lighting? Having spent billions on PHCN there is nothing to show for it apart from Nigeria having another award tag as the highest importer of generators. In what seems to be a joint effort between the PHCN, bad roads for accidents and robbers to prey on unsuspecting ones, the non-functioning of streetlights has made it look like the country is unaware of the hazard that the natural darkness of the night can cause. Even during creation and circumstances therein the Creator of the earth promised that day and night shall not cease. Why then do our authorities not seem to want to get prepared for it?

Indeed lighting beautifies a city. With all the noise about promoting tourism it is expected that this is one area that the government can work on. Looking at the banks and private sector initiatives in Victoria Island, we only encourage more private sector involvement in these needful areas as well. We also recognise and appreciate the state government for the new street signs we see across the streets of Lagos but even a child that scores ninety is not just told “Congratulations” but “more grease to your elbow” and “keep it up” as well.

Another thing is the drivers and road users. The policemen in siren blaring wagons and bullion vans that do not obey traffic rules, pedestrians that rather scamper across the 6 lane express rather than walk a few seconds over the not too far away pedestrian bridge, students who are not content on walking on the sidewalk, pedestrians that aimlessly parade the main road. Pedestrians and drivers are the ones that are involved in accidents and atimes the cause as well. Tipsy danfo drivers toeing dangerously along in the afternoons, drivers with cars without rear or back lights, tanker and molue drivers that drive speedily with unfunctional brakes.
But who puts these people on the road any way? Atimes a faulty system is to blame. In a chat with a neighbour recently he revealed that he was asked to pay a sum of ten thousand for a 1 week driving course in one of the driving schools. To him, he preferred to take the more cost effective option of asking a friend to teach him how to drive. Some people in the country want to use the legitimate approach to doing things but with the system it seems easier the other way around. Connections, tips and all. In getting a national id card, in getting a passport, and yes of course in getting a driver’s license. A tip and you can get your license delivered to you at home. Married men get one for their pestering wives who want a car of their own and atimes cant wait to get started with driving it whether they are well able and sufficiently able to do so or not. As a result with this in place on a general note, the roads are packed with teenagers and several others behind steering wheels they only have business when the engine is off. Some people do not even know how to read road signs. But they are on the roads and they have licenses to show policemen that read them upside down.

Then there is the temperament, the mood. Every body is in a hurry; too much speed can be deadly, even as the FRSC has constantly emphasized but atimes uncalled for traffic boils up the temperament, a poor road network does too, a mono dependent road transport system even does more. If authorities can ensure that even as legislators can have millions of naira to renovate their houses and acquire furniture, money could also be allotted to put more policemen, traffic control officers on the roads. And they must be well paid too as well. For atimes it seems the arrest of traffic offenders seems geared towards generating money rather than enforcing law and order. A good example policemen and LASTMA.

Road worthy drivers, protected okada riders, pedestrians using their namesaked pedestrian bridges, good lighting, good roads not forgetting to thank the Minister of Works for repairing the famous Benin- Ore road, well paid, well equipped and motivated traffic control officials, a working and effective driver testing and licensing system, a multi faceted transportation scheme in cities like Lagos and all these geared towards one objective. Towards saving lives and safer roads. It is said that a strength of a nation is in her people and we have seen nations like China putting her population size to advantageous economic, political and even military use. If indeed the strength of a nation is in her people, with regular emergencies having people that survive being taken to Igbobi, General Hospital, Ikeja, LUTH and those not too lucky transcend this life, how strong then are we? Lets take care of ourselves, lets take care of traffic, road users and lets do take care of our roads.

Well wishes

Kehinde Akintobi
churchonthenet004@yahoo.co.uk
08060631373