NEWS
Christmas: FRSC Deploys 36,000 Marshals, 43 Ambulances for Nationwide Patrol
The Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, has directed the immediate deployment of logistics, 36,000 personnel and special marshals nationwide to ensure road safety during the Christmas and new year.
The Corps Public Education Officer, Assistant Corps Marshal Mr Bisi Kazeem, annouced this in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja.
Oyeyemi also directed the enforcement of compliance with road traffic rules and COVID-19 precautionary measures for road users.
Oyeyemi instructed that there should be strategic 24-hour observatory at commands and traffic control camps along high volume of traffic and gridlock prone areas.
He promised that there would be full mobilisation of 23 help areas, 46 emergency ambulances at zebra points, road side clinics and 24 hour-broadcast on road activities on National Traffic Radio 107.1 FM station.
He said that the directive was targeted at achieving a near-zero road traffic crash throughout the period.
“The 2020 Operation Zero tolerance commenced from Dec. 12 to Jan. 15, 2021 nationwide.
“The operation is programmed to run in shift as follows: 0600hrs – 1400hrs, 1400hrs – 2000hrs, 2000hrs – 2200hrs and night rescue teams on standby at all operational commands.
“This is billed to cover Sokoto-Tambuwal-Jega-Birnin Kebbi corridor, Katsina-Kano-Wudil-Dutse-Azare-Potiskum corridor, Kaduna-Saminaka-Jos corridor, Abuja-Kaduna-Kano corridor.
“Also Okene-Ogori-Isua-Owo corridor, Makurdi-Otukpo-Obollo Afor-9th Mile corridor, Asaba-Abraka-Ughelli-Warri corridor, Ibadan-Ogere-Sagamu corridor and Sagamu-Mowe-Lagos corridor, among others.
Oyeyemi, while explaining some reasons for year 2020’s holistic approach to safer roads, said that the corps had observed that a key characteristics of the period over the years was an upsurge in traffic volume.
He noted that the corps observed impatience by motorists who might not have adequately planned their journeys and that motorists, on many occasions, managed mechanically deficient vehicles to and fro their travel often.
According to him, these are major causes of crashes, fatalities, maiming of motorists, loss of property, traffic congestion and gridlocks.
He stated that the operation would cover the three broad areas of traffic control, decongestion, public enlightenment and enforcement.
Oyeyemi said that the enforcement was aimed at checkmating excessive speeding, dangerous driving, overtaking, lane indiscipline and route violation, road obstructions, use of phone while driving, overloading violation, seatbelt and child restraint use violations,
“There will also be enforcement on passengers’ manifest violations, mechanically deficient vehicles, latching and twist-locks violation, abuse of spy number plates on private vehicles, and massive constitution of mobile courts across the bation.
“While officers and marshals will be mobilised with the necessary materials for rescue operations, the corps’ operatives would be collaborating with military units.
“We will collaborate with the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and Directorate of State Services.
“Also, we will collborate with NGO Ambulance Service Providers, National Network on Emergency Road Services and the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency,” he said.
The corps marshal also said that the operatives would be charged with the responsibility of identifying alternative routes to assist motorists during gridlocks and give notification of traffic distressed areas for intervention.
He called on the motoring public to utilise all FRSC social media handles (facebook.com//frscnigeria,Instagram.com//frscnigeria and twitter.com//frscnigeria for necessary updates and in case of emergency, to call the 122 toll free number.
“The National Traffic Radio live lines are 08052998090, 09067000015 and 08052998012.
“These are available means to reach FRSC to report Traffic situations anywhere in the country,” he said. (NAN)
NEWS
Shettima to Lead Nigeria’s Delegation to UNGA
President Bola Tinubu will not attend the 79th United Nations General Assembly session in New York this year.The President has thus directed Vice President Kashim Shettima to lead Nigeria’s delegation, Mr Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser, Information and Strategy, said in a statement on Thursday.“President Tinubu, who returned to the country last Sunday after his trip to China and the UK, wants to focus on domestic issues and address some of the country’s challenges, especially after the recent devastating flooding.
“At UNGA 79, Vice President Shettima will deliver Nigeria’s national statement to the General Assembly, attend important sideline events, and hold bilateral meetings,” said the statement.The high-level General Debate, with the theme, “Leaving no one behind: Acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations,”will run from Sept. 24, to Sept. 28. (NAN)NEWS
NECO Releases 2024 SSCE Results
The National Examinations Council, (NECO) has released the June/July 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination results (SSCE), with 60.55 per cent of candidates securing five credits and above in English Language and Mathematics.
The Registrar of NECO, Prof. Dantani Wushishi, disclosed this while addressing newsmen at the NECO headquarters on Thursday in Minna, Niger.
Wushishi said that a total of 1,376,423 candidates, representing 706,950 males and 669,473 females, registered for the exam.
The registrar said that 1,367,736 candidates sat for the examination, representing 702,112 Males and 665,624 females.
He said that 828, 284 candidates had five credits and above, including English and Mathematics, representing 60.
55 per cent.Wushishi said that the number of candidates with five credits and above, irrespective of English and Mathematics, were 1,147,597, representing 83.90 per cent.
He said that there was a great reduction in the number of examination malpractices this year compared to 2023.
“The number of candidates involved in various forms of malpractice in 2024 is 8,437 as against 12,030 in 2023, which shows a reduction of 30. 1 per cent,” he said.
The registrar, however, said that 40 schools were found to be involved in mass cheating during the examination.
” During the conduct of the 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), 40 schools were found to have been involved in whole school (mass) cheating in 17 states.
” They will be invited to the Council for discussion, after which appropriate sanctions will be applied.
“A school in Ekiti was recommended for de-recognition for mass cheating in two core subjects and 01 Science subject.
” Similarly, 21 Supervisors were recommended for blacklisting due to poor supervision, aiding and abetting, abscondment, extortion, drunkenness and negligence in 12 states,”said.
He urged candidates that sat for the examination to visit NECO website to access their results.
Wushishi said candidates can access their results on NECO website: www.neco.gov.ng using their examination registration number,” he said.(NAN)
NEWS
NDDC Unveils Initiative to Enhance food Security in N’ Delta Programmes
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) says it is committed to advancing projects and programmes that enhance food security and sustainable growth in the region.Chief Monday Igbuya, the Delta representative on the NDDC Board, made this pledge in a statement issued on Thursday in Port Harcourt by the NDDC’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mrs Seledi Thompson-Wakama.
Igbuya spoke at the inauguration of a training and empowerment programme for women and youths in livestock and agro processing in Amukpe, Sapele area of Delta. He stated that the NDDC was prioritising livestock training in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.“NDDC is focussed on implementing programmes to ensure food security and agricultural growth in multi sectors, aiming to improve living standards.“It is our belief that for socio-economic development to take place, there is need to develop manpower in the agricultural sector,” he said.Igbuya expressed confidence that training farmers would enhance livestock production, create jobs, and alleviate poverty in the Niger Delta.Mrs Winifred Madume, NDDC Director of Agriculture and Fisheries, said that training farmers and entrepreneurs was essential for improving productivity and market access.“The commission has been promoting research and development through various institutions and providing farming techniques to beneficiaries,” she said.The Project Consultant, Dr Simon Akhaine, said that 200 women and youths had registered for the livestock and agro-business skill acquisition programme.According to him, the programme aims to equip them with the essential knowledge and skills for self-sufficiency in livestock farming, thereby boosting regional food security. (NAN)