LAGOS – Passengers of commercial vehicles have been awoken to their right to arrest any driver disobeying the traffic laws while conveying them to their destinations.
Ringing this bell of awakening was Prof. Charles Asenime, the Dean, School of Transportation and Logistics Lagos State University while delivering a paper titled Drivers Ethics And Behaviour under the theme: Drivers’ And Road Sensitisation at a one-day seminar organized by the Road Transport Employers’Association of Nigeria RTEAN LASU Chapel in conjunction with the school.
The seminar took place at the conference hall of the LASU School of Transportation And Logistics on the Ojo Campus of the university.
In his didactic, scholarly paper, Asenime exposed the multi-sector participants at the seminar to the right of Citizen Arrest under which normal civilian passengers could apprehend any such erring driver and hand him over to the appropriate law-enforcement authority nearest to the scene of the offense.
The widely-traveled professor, however, cautioned that in trying to effect the arrest of a law-breaking driver, it be done without recourse to violence or physical friction.
Rather, under the Citizen Arrest privilege, the passengers should just call the attention of the law-enforcing agents related to traffic safety management and stay off the rest of the case for the concerned authorities to do their duties.
Prof. Asenime also gave words of admonition to all participants at the seminar, especially the seasoned and also young drivers to guide them into better service delivery, more cordial driver-passenger relationship, self-dignity, family responsibility, and personal hygiene.
The seminar drew participants from across arms of the traffic, vehicular, and commuters’ safety management sector including the academia and professionals in the field.
Those who participated in the well-attended and highly interactive seminar were personnel of the Federal Road Safety Corps, (FRSC), Vehicle Inspection Service, (VIS,) Lagos State Transport Management Authority, (LASTMA).
Earlier in his welcome address, at the event, Comrade Nurudeen Mudashiru Eniafe, the Chairman, RTEAN, (LASU Chapel) who is an alumnus of Lagos State University, said the event was organized as a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) service to society.
He added that the seminar was part of the Union’s activities to mark the first year anniversary of its establishment.
According to him, the event was also organized to educate drivers on the need to be more cautious while on the wheel, particularly concerning the need to obey traffic rules “which when obeyed will be to their advantage.”
Apart from the fact that the chapter is within an academic environment, “we also decided to invite the traffic officials to educate the drivers so that there won’t be clash on the road.”
Eniafe also explained that since the RTEAN chapter was established in the university, it has been to the benefit of the university community especially the safety and wellbeing of the students day and night.
“To also give back to the society, our chapter gave five indigent students’ scholarships and distributed 100 Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, (JAMB), forms also to indigents in Iba community.”
He thanked the university management under the leadership of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello for their support as well as the National President and state Chairman, RTEAN, Alh. Musa Muhammed for their support of the chapter.
The representative of the FRSC, Unit Commander, Assistant Corps Commander, Ezireme Azubune took the participants through the ethics of the job and how they could be free from traffic offenses while driving.
He advised them to always have a valid driver’s license and be conscious of speed limits at all times.
On his part, Engr. Daniel Wusu representing the Office of VIS in charge of the zone urged the drivers to always be conscious of how they behave on the roads and should make sure their vehicle has the necessary papers as well as making sure all the necessary fittings in the vehicle are in good condition, especially the lights and the side mirrors.
He assured the participants that when they do the right things, there is no way Vehicle Inspection Officers would disturb them on the highways.
“We are partners in progress and you are important to the economy of the state and you should be conscious of this when you are doing your jobs,” he said.
Also speaking at the seminar, LASTMA official, Mr. Arewa Jonathan enjoined the drivers to always think of the safety of the passengers they convey in their vehicles and also put other road users into consideration while on their jobs.
He pointed out the use of seat belt at all times and they must remove their vehicles off the roads when it breaks down so that other road users will be able to use the road without impediments.
In his remarks, the Secretary of RTEAN, Mr. Olalere Samuel Owoseni thanked members who graced the occasion.
He revealed that since the inception of the chapter at the university, what seems to be a liability to the institution has turned out to be an asset and the students are happy about it.
Owoseni, also an alumnus of LASU said the event is a testimony to what the chapter has achieved in the last year and they hope to do more.
The highlight of the seminar was the award of certificates of participation to all the participants, majorly the professional drivers.
Source: Independent News
