Fashola Says Bad Roads Not Cause Of Accidents On Highways

Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, says injuries and avoidable accidents that occur on highways are not always due to bad roads as claimed by road users.

Naija News reports that the minister made this statement in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, at a capacity building workshop on the activation of the five United Nations’ Convention on Road Traffic acceded to by Nigeria.

At the event, Fashola noted that road accidents are largely due to speeding and the recklessness of drivers, as no driver speeds on a bad road.

The minister said the workshop underscored the importance and commitment of the government on the safety of the lives of Nigerians, a statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing on Wednesday revealed.

Fashola stressed that injuries and avoidable accidents that occurred daily on highways were regrettable.

The minister told participants at the workshop that there was no state in Nigeria that the Federal Government was not executing one road project or the other.

Fashola said the ministry would soon embark on the deployment of manpower for the erection of additional road signs to provide the required guidance, support and direction to road users.

He urged the Federal Road Safety Corps to intensify efforts on public enlightenment campaigns, orientation and education of drivers to be of good behaviour while on highways in order to ensure the safety of lives and property.