Mr Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has stated that a digital security monitoring and control system will be implemented soon in the existing FCT transportation management system.
Wike made the remarks during the 2023 Special Marshals Sectoral Workshop, which was organized by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), FCT Sector Command Special Marshals.
The workshop held in Abuja on Saturday had the theme, “Volunteerism in Road Safety Management: Limits and Possibilities.”
The minister stated that digitization will safeguard the safety and security of passengers in the FCT, who were represented by Mr. Ubokutom Nya, Secretary, FCTA Transport Secretariat.
He continued by saying that the program would improve both accessibility and effectiveness of transportation services.
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“The idea of the digital monitoring system is part of our attention to details in providing a transportation system that will be safe and secure.
“Apart from being affordable, those entering a vehicle, private or mass transit of the FCT will have peace of mind that as he enters the vehicle, so also he will come out safely,” Wike said.
He said that the cameras used in the digital monitoring system would be able to monitor people-moving vehicles.
The minister announced that people will have to use their phones to scan in when getting into vehicles and to scan out when getting out.
He said: “once in the vehicle, the system will time the trip and alert the central control system if a person does not scan out at the time he or she is supposed to disembark the vehicle.
“This means that in real time, there will be an alarm to search for the individual who entered the vehicle.
“You don’t need to call any person at home, saying you entered a particular vehicle, because it is self-activating.
“As you enter, you scan in on the vehicle and it goes to the central control and as you come out within a period, it also goes to cancel. If the trip is not canceled, there is an alarm that is triggered.
“We are working on the details, and it will not be too long before it comes on board.”
In keeping with the secretariat’s objective for safety, affordability, and flexibility, the minister further stated that more innovations would also be implemented.
“We are working on rail transportation; we are working on Bus Rapid Transport and consulting with private individuals who will bring in their private transportation.
“The FCT will also be working on upgrading our motor parks to global standards, so that people will be encouraged to patronise public transport.
“This, of course, will reduce the number of private vehicles on the roads, and if there are fewer private vehicles, it means that the traffic movement will be better,” he said.
Wike mentioned that Abuja has a high number of accidents due to careless drivers, which he labeled “worrisome” and demanded immediate action.
He observed that the majority of motorists did not follow traffic laws, such as respecting the posted speed limit, stopping at stop signs, and maintaining lane discipline, among others.
According to him, this led to other drivers breaking the rules of the road, making the roadways unsafe.
According to the FCT minister, the FRSC’s creation of the Special Marshal Division will enable the corps to more successfully carry out its mandated duties.
“On our own part as the administrators of the FCT, we will continue to relate with critical stakeholders in this sector to enable us to achieve our core mandate,” the minister said.
Earlier, the FRSC Corps Marshal, Dauda Biu, emphasized the necessity of a review of the actions for managing road safety and an examination of variables that can help to lower the number of accidents on Nigerian roads.
Road accidents, according to Biu, who was represented by Deputy Corps Marshal Shehu Zaki, were preventable because of the behavior or actions of other road users.
He continued by saying that all stakeholders must take responsibility for promoting road safety, not just the FRSC.