The Federal Road Safety Corps said it is collaborating with the Ogun State government on a joint task force to checkmate illegal parking of articulated vehicles on the state’s highways.

The FRSC Sector Commander in Ogun, Akinwunmi Fashakin, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abeokuta at a stakeholder meeting with transportation unions in the state.

Mr Fasakin explained that the measure was to address the rising cases of road crashes and traffic gridlocks caused by indiscriminate parking of trucks,

According to him, the increasing presence of small, medium, and large-scale industries across the state has resulted in a sharp rise in the influx of trucks.

He said, “The industrial growth has brought about a surge in road crashes involving heavy-duty vehicles. It is important to develop and implement strategies aimed at curbing the excesses of the vehicles. FRSC has commenced stakeholder engagement and sensitisation involving truck drivers, commercial drivers, and mining and quarry drivers. To strengthen enforcement, a joint task force is being proposed, comprising the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, FRSC, and the police. This task force will focus on dislodging illegally parked trailers, particularly around Ogere, Interchange, and other critical corridors of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. Letters have been sent to companies operating in the affected areas to provide proper parks for their trucks.’’

The sector commander also said many of the drivers involved in road crashes and gridlocks were unlicensed, underage or inexperienced.

“They take advantage of the size of their vehicles to bully smaller cars on the road, which is totally unacceptable,” he added.

Also, Vice Chairman, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, Monsuru Owokade, Abeokuta branch, commended FRSC’s efforts in ensuring safer roads.

He said, “The programme is timely, and we also hold regular sensitisation for our drivers to ensure they avoid alcohol before getting behind the wheel.’’

Similarly, representative of the Ogun State Trailer Drivers Association, Fata Diyaolu, expressed satisfaction with the programme and called on the FRSC to sustain the sensitisation.

(NAN)