FRSC trains over 150 Anambra journalists, warns against seeking license by proxy
By Okechukwu Onuegbu
The Federal Road safety Corps (FRSC), on Thursday, trained over 150 journalists in Anambra State on safety measures to be adopted while driving or walking on highways and related sundry reporting.
The training held at Godwin Ezeemo International Press Centre, Awka was organised in partnership with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Anambra State Council and had in attendance reporters, correspondents, editors, cameramen, bloggers and information officers from across media organisations.
The State Sector Commander, Joyce Nnenna Alexander conducted the media training through the Sector Training Office represented by Deputy Corps Commander (DCC) Caroline Adaora Olise and the Chief Route Commander, Corp Reginald Iheanacho Irechukwu respectively.
Speaking at the occasion, the Sector Commander, (FRSC), Anambra State Command, Joyce Nnenna Alexander, warned commuters and drivers against seeking driving license by proxy, which according to her, could not be issued.
Alexander, who said that driving licence could be obtained at their offices in Amawbia, Nnewi, Igboukwu, Onitsha and Ihiala, urged the public to visit the designated places in person as well as avoid engaging on unauthorized persons or even visiting her office for it.
She also enumerated human, mechanical and environmental factors responsible for road crashes especially in the State and urged the media support in sensitizing the public to drive safely.
According to her, human factors which could be avoided, included over speeding, defensive driving, tiredness, making or answering phone calls, driving after drinking alcohol, over confidence and other unwholesome attitude.
On the other hand, mechanical factors leading to road crashes were distraction, wiper checks, observation of lighting system, disobedience to traffic codes, lack of head lamp checks, non-maintenance of vehicles, ignorance of trekking space, neglect of morning parade for water and oil level checks, among others.
“A vehicle must be fit before hitting the road. For a vehicle to be fit, it must always have spare parts like valid documents, functional wipers, tyres,clear mirror, etc.,” She added.
The Sector Commander, while calling on drivers to manage their emotions, observed that the key role of FRSC was to ensure safety on the road and reduction of percentage of accident by 10 percent each year until the 50 percent reduction set by the world transport regulatory body is achieved by 2030.
At the training, journalists were urged to be patient with the Command while seeking to balance their reports as well as to use appropriate technical terms like fatal, minor and others while reporting death incidents.
Responding,the Chairman, NUJ, Anambra State Council, Comrade Emeka Odogwu appreciated the FRSC Command for the training, describing the exercise as important to media practitioners in the state in view of their impacts in the society.
He assured that the lessons from the training would not only be beneficial to the journalists, but to the public at large through escalated reportage
