By Chiazo Ogbolu
THE LAGOS State Government, through its Ministry of Transportation, says it will reintroduce its school safety traffic advocacy programme, aimed at enhancing student safety and promoting responsible road use.
Mr Sola Giwa, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, made this known in a statement by Mrs Bolanle Ogunlola, the Deputy Director, Public Affairs of the ministry, on Tuesday in Lagos.
Giwa said that the initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry of Transportation, aimed to instil traffic safety awareness among students, teachers, and parents across the state.
He said that the programme would not only educate students on traffic rules, but also equip schools with the knowledge needed to foster a culture of safety.
“Government has identified lack of traffic knowledge and poor road attitudes as key issues contributing to gridlock and road safety concerns.
“The initiative is a comprehensive traffic safety education programme for students in public and private primary and secondary schools, aimed at catching them young,” Giwa said.
The special adviser said that the programme would also foster safety consciousness, and promote responsible road use by these categories of students, instilling values in them at early age.
He said that the re-unveiling of the advocacy programme underscored the state government’s renewed commitment to traffic safety education, representing a significant step toward ensuring safer roads for Lagos residents and creating a traffic-conscious generation.
Giwa said that majority of commercial drivers and professional drivers in the state were either primary school graduates or attempted secondary education, without exposure to traffic safety education.
“Children and young people share the road as pedestrians, passengers in vehicles or motorbikes, hence the need for traffic safety education as a priority of the state government.
“The programme will provide children and young people with the required skills to become responsible drivers, passengers; pedestrians; cyclists; and above all; responsible citizens,” he said.
Giwa urged all stakeholders to support the programme. (NAN)
