Ogbor Hill Aba Accident: Abia Govt Unveils Road Safety Measures | READ MORE

Following the unfortunate accident that occurred on Tuesday at Waterside, Ogbor Hill axis of Aba, the commercial city of Abia State, the state government has unveiled some road safety measures to prevent future occurrences.

The measures according to a statement issued by Mr. Dodoh Okafor, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Alex Otti on Public Communication are;

• Setting up a task force which shall work on a 24-hour basis, everyday, in Aba and Umuahia with a direct mandate to remove all damaged or immovable vehicles on the road as quickly as a report is received. This shall apply to heavy duty, commercial and private vehicles. The cost of removing such vehicles shall be borne by the owners.

•  The task force shall also work to ensure that all container-laden trucks coming into the state meet relevant safety standards and do not constitute a threat to the safety of Abians. Those found in violation of standard regulations on the management and safety of containers-in-transit shall be made to face the full wrath of the law.

• •  Previous directives restricting the movement of heavy duty vehicles within Aba and Umuahia metropolis between the hours of 7am and 8pm are hereby restored with immediate effect. Government will work with all relevant stakeholders over the next few days to identify suitable parks within the two cities where affected vehicles can park and wait until the appropriate time when they can move without constituting a threat to the safety of other road users. Security agents are hereby directed to ensure full compliance.
  • The Abia State Ministry of Transport and other relevant agencies of the Government have been equally directed to immediately activate all existing vehicle road worthiness and safety policies and enforce the laws as may be necessary to ensure safety on our roads, especially as the yuletide approaches.
  • The State Government has also directed that all transport unions in the state must immediately initiate safety training for their members. We expect all the transport unions and associations in the state to comply with this directive.

• “Through its various agencies and parastatals, the Abia State Government would carry out a detailed investigation to identify the immediate and remote causes of this most recent accident at the Waterside Bridge and seek the input of all concerned stakeholders to improve safety records along that particular stretch of road as well as all other public roads in the state. 

“The State Government wishes to assure Abians in particular and Nigerians in general of its commitment to public safety, particularly on the roads. The ongoing road rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in all parts of the state, especially in the urban areas, bear eloquent testimonies to our determination to make our roads very safe for users. More will be done in the weeks ahead as His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, works to achieve his zero-potholes policy on major roads in the state, importantly in the heavy traffic zones” the statement added.