By Elijah Ugani
The National Association of Seadogs, El Dorado Deck Obudu chapter, in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps Special Marshal Unit 18, and the Vehicle Inspection Officers, Obudu held a sensitization and awareness campaign for commercial drivers in Obudu.
The sensitization and awareness campaign which held today, 29th March 2025 at the central motor park Obudu, is the second edition and has participants drawn from commercial drivers and cyclist union and members of the public.
Speaking during the awareness campaign, the Special Road Safety Marshal, Mrs Margaret Uzor PhD, who is also the Head, department of Special Education, Federal College of Education, Obudu, on the theme, Respect Road Signs, Save a life, mentioned that concerns and regards towards road signs, is what constitute respect for road signs.
She noted that while road signs are conspicuously written out in other climes, the case is different in our climes as road signs are not displayed in our localities.
She stressed that drivers and other road users must nurture the desire and show willingness to have regards for road signs. She averred that “Life is precious, therefore those who have connection with life have to be very conscious with what they are doing”. She, however , cautioned drivers against yielding to passenger’s desire to speed.
Uzor listed Zebra Crossing, left turn ahead, construction ahead, stop sign, hospital as some of the few examples of roadsigns.
Stressing on the absence of roadsigns within the locality, Uzor opined that “The absence of road signs implies that drivers must drive with care and caution. As drivers, you should create the roadsigns in your head even when the roadsigns are not there.
“Most of the accidents on our roads are as results of drivers carelessly. When you fail to respect road signs, it can lead to damages and loss of properties, delays, unnecessary waste of funds and resources”.
Uzor listed concentration, avoid quarrelling, phone calls, being friendly and maintaining a healthy relationship with passengers, avoiding competition, car maintenance, drive yourself and drive others, ignoring the excesses of passengers, avoid discussing politics, as some of the ways to respect roadsigns.
Concluding, Uzor listed caution, safety and protection of life and prosperities, arrive your destination safely and successfully, as some of the reasons for respecting road signs.
“Each road sign is for a purpose. If each of the road signs, whether written or the one we create in our heads, if followed, we will have safer roads”. She said.
On his part, another Special Marshal,Mr Betiang Adie stressed that drivers must obey the overtaking road sign which is long white road.
Adie charged drivers to always be conscious of vehicle signs: Ignition, break light, pointer. He averred that the recent accident that occured at Awka, where two persons lost their lives will have been avoided if the driver had listened to the passengers. The driver set for the journey with faulty brakes.
On his part, the representative of the Vehicle Inspection Officer VIO, commandant Obudu, ….. noted that “most of the road accidents are basically due to the impatient exhibited by most drivers. The road officials (VIO, police , Road Safety officers, traffic wardens) are on the road to guarantee your safety.
“Your car must be functional, your vehicle sign must be functional. Put on seat belts, avoid overloading, respect road signs. Update your papers. If your papers are up to date, nobody will intimidate you on the road”.
In his remarks, the President of Seadogs El Dorado Deck Obudu chapter, Mr Gerlart Adie thanked participants to have found time to turn out for the sensitization exercise and stated the sensitization and awareness campaign is part of the association responsibility to society.
The Seadogs, also known as the Pyrates Confraternity, is a Nigerian confraternity organization that was founded in 1952 at the University College, Ibadan.
In his vote of thanks, the Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers NURTW, Mr Joe Bite, thanked the National Association of Seadogs for organizing the sensitization and awareness campaign for commercial drivers and other road users in Obudu.
He commended the FRSC Special Marshal Unit 18 Obudu, for an indepth lecture on safety rules and averred that Obudu drivers are sensitive to the plight of their passengers and will ensure compliance with the sensitization.
Sideline of the sensitization was health talk and free medical check by Nature’s Renaissance International Limited, and group photograph.
