Akungba Crash :Relocate Markets From Highways, FRSC Tasks Local Governments
By Kassim Omomia
Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi has demanded Local Government Administrations nationwide to relocate markets from the highways ,following the recent road traffic crash caused by break failure and loss of control resulting in the death of several persons at the Ibaka area of Akungba Akoko, Akoko South-West Local Government Area of Ondo State on Saturday evening.
16 people comprising 8 male adults, 2 male children, 4 female adult and 2 female children got killed in the auto crash and their bodies deposited at Specialist Hospital Ikare and General Hospital Iwaro Oka mortuaries by FRSC emergency rescue teams
The FRSC boss tasked the local authorities in a press statement issued by Bisi Kazeem, the Corps Public Education Officer, that it has become necessary to clear the major highways and roads from trading and all forms of markets by relocating them to approrpriate and safe locations
Oyeyemi noted that the gesture will not only help existing operational efforts of the FRSC to manage the highways but will enhance safer highways and stop road accidents and their attendant consequences
He decried the recent road traffic crash that claimed multiple lives and damage to properties at the Ibaka area of Akungba Akoko, in Ondo State yesterday , noting that even though it is unfortunate but was avoidable if the markets were not on the road
Recalled that the crash occurred at about 6.30 pm on Sarturday 31 October, 2020, when a DAF Truck loaded with bags of rice rammed into the stalls in the market and crashed into a Toyota Camry saloon car, Toyota corolla and 3 other motorcycles.
Meanwhile the Corps Marshal who spoke extensively on the urgency of such relocation also revealed that the Corps is concerned with the rising statistics of innocent citizens who have lost their lives as a result of building markets close to the highways and has since initiated impact oriented operational strategies to curb the menace.
He however lamented that the strategies no matter how good will not yield desired results if the government at the grassroots did not rise to the responsibility of relocating those markets.
Commiserating with the families of the victims, the Corps Marshal advised road users to be more disciplined, maintain their vehicles regularly and maintain prescribed speed limits at all times especially crowded places like markets.
