The Osun State Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps has deployed 555 personnel for a special patrol operation ahead of the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations across the state.
The Osun Sector Commander, Mr Sunday Adebayo, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday in Osogbo by the Sector Public Education Officer, Mrs Agnes Ogungbemi.
According to Adebayo, the week-long operation will run from May 25 to May 31 and is aimed at preventing road crashes and ensuring the free flow of traffic during the festive period.
He urged motorists and other road users to strictly comply with traffic regulations and avoid reckless driving to prevent accidents and possible sanctions.
The sector commander said the exercise would involve the deployment of three ambulances, two roadside clinics, one tow truck, and 15 patrol vehicles across major routes in the state.
He added that the operation would be carried out in collaboration with other security agencies to enhance safety on highways during the celebrations.
“The statutory responsibilities of the corps include clearing obstructions on roads, identifying causes of road traffic accidents, and proffering solutions to them,” Adebayo stated.
He also advised motorists to cooperate with FRSC officials, obey traffic laws, avoid speeding, and refrain from dangerous practices such as wrongful overtaking and overloading.
Adebayo further appealed to media organisations and other stakeholders to continue supporting campaigns against road crashes in the state.
Meanwhile, some residents and travellers have expressed concerns over the rising cost of transportation ahead of the Salah celebrations, attributing the situation to the increase in petrol prices.
A commercial driver at Nelson Mandela Park in Old Garage, Osogbo, Mr Kola Ayanfe, told the News Agency of Nigeria that transport fares have remained unstable due to the persistent hike in fuel prices.
He advised travellers to properly plan their trips to avoid being stranded financially during the festive period and called on the Federal Government to address the rising cost of transportation.
Also speaking, a traveller, Miss Kafiyat Abdullahi, said she paid N2,500 for a trip from Ilorin to Osogbo and expected to spend between N3,000 and N3,500 for another journey from Osogbo to Ibadan.
She lamented the worsening economic situation, noting that the increase in petrol prices has also driven up the cost of food and other essential commodities.
Abdullahi urged transport operators to be considerate when fixing fares during the festive period, adding that such gestures would positively impact their businesses.
She also appealed to the government to regulate petrol prices and make the product more affordable for Nigerians.
(NAN)
