RTA: Engagement of volunteers as first-responders, a noble idea – Katsina FRSC spokesman

Tue, Feb 14, 2023
By editor
3 MIN READ

Defence

KATSINA State Command of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says the engagement of volunteers as ‘first responders’ whenever Road Traffic Accidents (RTA) occur, has proved to be helpful.

The spokesperson of the Command, Malam Shamsudin Babajo, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Katsina that the idea behind such innovation was to reduce the hardship faced by victims whenever accidents occurred.

Babajo was responding to NAN survey on his Command’s comprehensive emergency response arrangement whenever accidents occur on highways.

He said such volunteers engaged were concerned Nigerians who had been partnering with the Command under the national post- crash care initiative.

“When we are not at accident scene, they render help and then call us; before our arrival, they would have done something, especially in reducing the pains of victims; we even have kits meant for them.

“We have engaged about 32 of them in the state, and are still sourcing for more because we want them to be at every crash- prone area”, he said.

According to him him, one of the challenges being face by the Command, is the delay in reporting road traffic accidents, and also identifying the exact location of the incident.

“Most times, crashes are not reported on time, and the exact location of incidents are hardly identified in good time; location determines quick response”, he explained.

Also speaking on emergency response arrangement of his unit, Alhaji Lawal Haruna, the Chief Fire Officer of Katsina State Fire Service, said activities of his unit had been extended to ensure the spread of rescue operations, especially in times of emergency.

Meanwhile, spokesman of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Kano State, Mr Ahmed Labaran, said the Corps had side clinics along major highways to provide emergency treatment to accident victims.

“Our response time is 15 minutes, within which assistance should get to victims after accident has been reported to our personnel”, he said.

On his part, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Coordinator in Kano State, Dr Nuraddeen Abdullahi, said NEMA had ensured effective coordination of sister agencies for prompt response to emergency situations.

“NEMA is a coordinating body, not a first-responder organisation; we coordinate all resources towards effective and efficient response in the country.

“The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has released 2023 seasonal climate predictions, and there is possibility of flooding in most part of the country.

“My sincere advice to people is that they should always adhere and listen to early warning signs and information on flood, to avoid being victims of tragedies”, he admonished. (NAN)

In Kaduna,  Mr Imam Garki, Zonal Coordinator of NEMA in the state, said the agency was prepared to provide a well coordinated and timely response to emergencies.

He said the agency had commenced engagement of relevant stakeholders to analyse NiMet weather prediction of 2023, to ensure effective mitigation and response.

” NEMA would be meeting with all emergency response stakeholders to analyze the 2023 NIMET weather prediction, which would be relayed to residents”, he said.

Garki also said that earlier in the year, the Agency commenced sensitisation of residents on fire prevention as part of its proactive measure in mitigating fire incidents.

” We had a consultative meeting to strengthen coordination with all stakeholders on fire response, while taking our sensitisation programme to markets and schools, to prevent fire outbreaks”, he added.(NAN)

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