The Federal Road Safety Corps(FRSC) in Oyo State says the command will deploy its operational energies to enforce the use of crash helmets by passengers and motorcyclists.

Mrs Rosemary Alo, the FRSC Sector Commander said this at a news conference organized by the command in commemoration of the 8th United Nations Global Road Safety Week on Monday in Ibadan.

The global road safety week, scheduled for May 12 to May 18, provides an opportunity to spur action at national and local levels to make walking and cycling safe.

The theme for the 2025 global road safety week is “Street for Life, #Make Walking Safe, Make Cycling Safe”.

Alo said that the week aims to highlight concrete and specific interventions that could be undertaken by various stakeholders like governments, international agencies, civil society, businesses and schools, to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists.

She said road users, particularly vulnerable groups like pedestrians and street children, faced higher risks of road traffic injuries and deaths due to poor road infrastructure, unsafe road conditions and inadequate safety measures.

According to her, the use of a helmet reduces damage to sensitive parts of the body, including eyes, skull, brain and nose.

“Pedestrians, especially the elderly and street children often involved in commercial activities on roadsides, are particularly vulnerable to injuries from traffic.

”Motorcyclists in the same way, as pedestrians, are still a significant road user group that faces high risks of injury.

“As Oyo sector commander, I am proud to lead efforts that prioritise the safety of our road users.

“The command remains committed to reducing road crashes and promoting a culture of safety on our roads, “she said.

She further noted that the week long event would feature sensitisation rally, distribution of flyers and media broadcast awareness to road users.

Alo revealed that the command had planned strategic visits to selected schools for road safety talk, advocacy visit to fleet operators and orphanage home, as well as commemorative church and mosque service.

“These initiatives aim to educate and remind road users of their roles in preventing road crashes.

“We urge all stakeholders, including motorists, pedestrians and cyclists to join us in this crusade.

“Together, we can make our roads safer and reduce the incidence of road crashes, especially those involving pedestrians and cyclists, “she said. (NAN)

 The Enugu State Government has reiterated its commitment to strengthening the One Health Approach as a strategic framework to tackle emerging and existing challenges in animal, human, and environmental health across the state.

Gov. Peter Mbah gave the assurance on Monday in Enugu during a two-day training session on Disease Monitoring and Investigation Using the One Health Risk Communication Approach and the National Action Plan on Health Security (NAPHS) Implementation.

The training, organised by the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) Coordination Centre in Enugu, was aimed at enhancing the capacity of One Health Officers in the state.

Represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro-Industrialisation, Mr Patrick Ubru, the governor described the training as a vital step in improving disease surveillance, fostering multisectoral collaboration, and enhancing public health outcomes through the One Health Approach.

“The global rise in zoonotic diseases and public health threats shows clearly that we must break down the barriers between human, animal, and environmental health systems,” Mbah said.

He lauded the workshop theme as both “timely and strategic,” emphasising that the One Health framework provided a unified and collaborative solution to the complex health challenges facing modern societies.

The governor highlighted the essential role of veterinary officers, para-veterinary professionals, and community animal health workers as frontline defenders in protecting livestock, safeguarding rural livelihoods, and preventing potential public health crises.

He also commended the Federal Government, through the L-PRES Coordination Centre, for its continued support in strengthening the livestock sector.

“I urge all participants to make the most of this training, share knowledge, embrace new tools and strategies, and carry these lessons back to your communities,” he added.

Also speaking, Dr Ifeyinwa Nnajieze, the Enugu State Project Coordinator for L-PRES, said the training focused on the critical importance of integration and collaboration in tackling cross-cutting health issues.

“The One Health Approach recognises that human, animal, and environmental health is deeply interconnected.

“By working together, we can better understand and address complex health challenges,” Nnajieze said.

She noted that the training was designed to improve the ability of veterinary and community animal health workers to identify, monitor, and investigate potential disease outbreaks, and to reactivate state-level Occupational Health Technical Working Groups.

“I appreciate Gov. Mbah for supporting this initiative and thank all participants and technical partners for their dedication to shaping a healthier future for Enugu’s livestock sector,” she added.

Dr John Maiye, Team Lead of the National Technical Working Group on L-PRES, emphasised the urgency of adopting the One Health Approach, noting that “about 75 per cent of diseases affecting humans originate from animals.”

He said the approach fostered coordinated action across human, animal, and environmental health sectors to effectively address zoonotic diseases and improve public health outcomes.

“The One Health Approach calls for synergy between these sectors to ensure inclusive and sustainable health for both humans and animals,” Maiye said. (NAN) 

 Pope Leo XIV will take questions from international pressmen at a news conference on Monday.

The Pope is expected to address several hundred journalists who have been reporting from the Vatican since the death of his predecessor, Pope Francis, last month.

The new pontiff, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of Chicago, was elected on Thursday as the head of the Roman Catholic Church and its 1.

The question-and-answer session may offer insights into how he intends to lead the Church and the key issues he plans to prioritize.

At 69, Pope Leo XIV is the first pope from the United States and the second from the Americas, following Pope Francis.

His inauguration Mass is scheduled to take place on Sunday in St. Peter’s Square.(dpa/NAN)