The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has come out to say it will introduce digital security in its existing transport management system’s monitoring and control system.
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister, Barrister Nyesome Wike, disclosed this on Saturday in Abuja, during the 2023 Special Marshals Sectoral Workshop, organised by the Federal Road Safety Corps, FCT Sector Command Special Marshal, with the theme, “Volunteerism in Road Safety Management: Limits and Possibilities”.
Wike, who was represented by Mr Ubokutom Nya, Secretary, Transport Secretariat, FCTA, said the digitization would ensure the safety and security of commuters in the FCT.
He said, “The idea of the digital monitoring system was part of our attention to detail in providing a transportation system that would be safe and secured. Apart from being affordable, those entering a vehicle, private or mass transit of the FCT have peace of mind that as they enter the vehicle, they will come out safely.
“This means that in real-time, there will be an alarm for the search for that individual who entered the vehicle. You don’t need to call any person at home, saying you entered a particular vehicle because it is self-activating.
“As you enter you scan in the vehicle and it goes to the central control as you come out within a period, it also goes to cancel. If that is not canceled, there is an alarm that is triggered. We are working on the details, and it will not be too long before it comes on board,” he said.
He further added that the FCT Administration will relate with the Special Marshal Division to work effectively, while promising to roll out innovations in the shortest possible time.
“On our own part as the Administrators of the FCT, we will continue to relate with critical stakeholders in this sector to enable us to achieve our core mandate.
“We are working on rail transportation; we are working on Bus Rapid Transport and consulting with private individuals who will bring in their private transportation.
“The FCT will also be working on upgrading our motor parks to global standards so that people will be encouraged to patronise public transport. This, of course, will reduce the number of private vehicles on the roads, and if there are fewer private vehicles, it means that the traffic movement would be better,” he said.
Earlier, the FRSC Corps Marshal, Dauda Biu, stressed the need to review the road safety management activities and analyse factors that could contribute to the reduction of crashes on Nigerian roads.
Biu, whom Deputy Corps Marshal Shehu Zaki represented, blamed road crashes on the actions or inaction of the road users, noting that the crashes are preventable.
On his part, Dr Yusuf Suberu, Squadron Leader of the FCT Directorate of Road Transport Services (DRTS), who is also the National Coordinator of Road Traffic and Vehicle Inspection Mayors of the Federation, hailed the digitalization, saying it will change the mindset of roads and create safety in the FCT.
He said, “It will actually go a long way to change the mindset of the people, take for instance in more developed world, when you commit an offence, nobody is chasing you, the reason people say Road Safety is bad or vehicle inspection officers are bad is that when you commit an offence, we try to apprehend you, with this technology we don’t need to look for you, your records are there, by the time you pay fine, one to three times, naturally you will adjust, so it will go a long way to create safety in the FCT.”
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