Following incessant road crashes on federal and States’ roads across the federation, the Senate on Wednesday urged the federal government and other relevant agencies to establish ambulances on major Highways in order to save lives.
The motion was presented by Senator Duro Faseyi (PDP) Ekiti North Senatorial District as a matter of urgent National interest. He described road accidents in Nigeria as too many that require drastic action.
In his lead debate, Faseyi expressed grief over “The demise of of six medical doctors and their driver from Ekiti State in a ghastly motor accident on Sunday, 24th April, 2016, on their way to the 54th Annual Conference of the Nigerian Medical Association in Sokoto State,” he said.
Senator Theodore Orji was, however, emphatic that there must be spiritual dimension to Kaduna – Abuja highway, while citing that late Minister of State, James Ocholi also died on the same spot.
In a quick response to Orji’s position, Senator Shehu Sani (APC), Kaduna Central Senatorial District stated that he was the first to have visited the scene of accident on Kaduna Road, explaining that there are no spirits responsible for accidents on Kaduna Roads.
He added that Spirits are in Nigerians to do the right thing by ensuring adequate funding of Federal Road Safety Corps and establishment of Hospitals on Highways.
“I was the first to visit the injured 6 Medical Doctors from Ekiti State and the scene of the accident. I want to assure Senator Orji that they are no spirits on that road, but the spirit is in Nigerians to do the right things,” Sani expressed.
Mao Ohabunwa (PDP) suggested a review of Act establishing Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, restricting them to basic maintenance of roads rather than engaging in huge contracts awards which was the responsibility of the federal Ministry of Works.
In his remark, Ike Ekweremadu pointed out that road crashes has brought out ineptitude of responsive mechanism of relevant agencies, praying that things will change.
“It is obvious now that road accidents on Nigerian Roads have brought out ineffective response mechanism and I think this should be looked into with a view to strengthening relevant agencies,” he remarked.
While taking the prayers, the Senate urged the federal government to establish ambulances on the highways.
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