National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Abuja Operations Office, says it has deployed personnel on roads leading in and out of Abuja to achieve zero fatality during the Sallah celebration.
Mr Justin Uwazuruonye, Abuja NEMA Head of Operation, who made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Friday, said a similar operation was done during the Easter celebration on April 14.
Uwazuruonye said that the deployment was carried out in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC).
He said that this was done to ensure the smooth flow of traffic during the festive celebrations and to complement the efforts of FRSC.
“The programme was flagged-off on April 14 with Easter Mega Rally, themed: “Achieving Zero Road Fatality, Through Public Enlightenment’’.
“FRSC, being the lead agency in management of road crashes, and some other critical partners like Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigeria Police Force (NPF), were present.
“Other partners present were Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO), FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and officials of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).
“The personnel were deployed at Giri – Gwagwalada, Zuba, Airport Roads, Nyanya/ Kugbo down to Mararaba.
“This programme will continue during the Sallah celebrations as the volume of traffic is always high and people are mostly not careful on the roads during festive periods,” he said.
Uwazuruonye said that from experience in emergency response, one reason for reduction in high fatality recorded from Road Traffic Accidents (RTAs) could be attributed to the initial assistance provided to the victims by members of the public or by first responders.
He said the Abuja operation of NEMA had also deployed Mobile Intensive Care Unit (MICU) ambulances for life support, Rapid Response Van with extricating equipment, and experienced personnel during this exercise.
The head of operation also said this was in a bid to aid their work for rapid response in the case of any emergency. (NAN)
