FRSC
o
A MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF FEDERAL ROAD SAFETY COMMISSION
Child safety on roads; our main project! ROSOWA President - Page 12
www.frscinsight.com NOVEMBER 2011
Bicycle Revolution
www.saferoadinnigeria.org
INSIDE FRSC
| IN THE NEWS | DECADE OF ACTION | PUBLICATIONS | SPEECHES |
LIFESTYLE
| PHOTO SPEAKS | MANY MORE
INTRODUCING
www.frscinsight.com 01 | To create awareness on the many issues and challenges of safety on roads. 02 | To create adequate, systematic and effective awareness on the many achievements made so far by the FRSC towards actualizing the Decade of Action For Road Safety. 03 | To involve the stakeholders in actualizing the Decade of Action on Road Safety by communicating the parts they could play in the process and getting their feedback on the activities of FRSC. 04 | To give the global audience deep insight and fresh perspective on FRSC activities 05 | To promote transparency in FRSC and project the organization's image positively. 06 |To give the employee a strong of sense morale and accomplishment
IN THIS EDITION FRSC
o
■ Bicycle Revolution - pg 5 ■ ROSOWA President Interview - pg 6 ■ Green House Gases - pg 8 ■ The Transformation Agenda -pg 10 ■ Drunk Driving - Short Stories - pg 12 ■ Top 4 Cancer Foods - pg 14 ■ Quotes on Hard Work - pg 16 ■ 2012 Corporate Strategic Goals - pg 18
Copyright & Disclaimer . The information contained in this Newsletter has been compiled by Federal Road Safety Corps [FRSC]. It provides general information only. Some photographs and graphics contained therein are only for dramatization (i.e. may not represent any member, client, partner, facilities, employee etc. of Federal Road Safety Corps). No responsibility is accepted for the correctness and completeness of the given information. . Copyright © Federal Road Safety Commission. All rights reserved. Contact Details Federal Road Safety Corps National Headquaters Olusegun Obasanjo Way, Zone 7, Wuse District. PMB 125, Abuja, Nigeria 0700- CALL - FRSC 0700 - 2255 - 3772 0807- 769 - 0362 (Text Messages Only) Email: info@frsc.gov.ng Website: www.frsc.gov.ng
EDITORIAL BOARD Osita Chidoka Corps Marshal/Chief Executive Publisher
OC Oladele (DCC) Editor–In-Chief
KD Alegieuno (ARC) Editor
Members VO Ogunnupebi (ACC) AR Obagbemiro (SRC) CB Nwokolo (ARC) DO Enakireru (ARC) 0I IKOKU (ARC)
The Transformation Agenda 2011 As part of the need for the Federal Government under the leadership of president Goodluck Jonathan to implement policies that will aid the development of the citizenry not only on aggregate levels but that which will have a positive effect on the individual, the Federal Government has introduced a transformation agenda with Nigeria's vision 2020 and the 1st national implementation plan (NIP) as the anchors on which this agenda is built. This transformation agenda was borne from a need to proffer a lasting solution to the problems of lack of continuity, consistency and commitment to agreed policies, projects and programmes as well as an absence of a long-term perspective. The culminating effects of these have been the growth and development of the Nigerian economy without a concomitant improvement in the welfare of Nigerian citizens thereby resulting to rising unemployment, inequality and poverty. In view of this the current administration has responded to this need in its transformation agenda, which covers the period of 2011-2015. See page 14
www.frscinsight.org
Decade of Action for Road Safety is attainable! Let’s Join hands to create a Safe Road in Nigeria
EDITORIAL
05
From The Editor-In-Chief
Have you ever wondered why the birds that fly in the air, including the bats that fly at night never collide no matter their number and proximity in flight? Bats, including their young ones, seldom fly alone; they fly in group but never collide in the air. However, the lesson drivers using the highways have not learnt from the bats is to avoid collision, even when they drive in broad daylight. Collision on the highway is a disincentive to national development. The federal government's transformation agenda, which is featured in this edition is primarily anchored on human development, which we believe starts from halting the dissipation of human resources from avoidable road carnages.
facts did you know...
All the economically transformed countries in the league of the 20 safest countries have a robust bicycle system in operation. Nigeria desires to be one of the 20 safest countries in the world by the year 2020 in line with the Fedearl Government's Transformation Agenda as encapsulated in the Vision 20:2020 document. This therefore underscores why Nigeria needs to develop the culture of bicycle use for urban mobility. How Nigeria should implement this policy can be read in this edition. The Nigerian child can only benefit from a transformed Nigeria, if only the adults saddled with the responsibility of transporting them to and from school, drive cautiously. Leading the campaign for safe transportation of children and young ones is ROSOWA, the Road Safety Officers Wives Association. How the campaign is managed is explained in the interview granted by the National President of ROSOWA, Barrister Chidinma Chidoka. The interview is a reader's delight.
That the first road (about 56km) for motorised vehicles in Nigeria was built in 1906 from Ibadan to Oyo.
From this edition, you will be reading a transformed insight newsletter. Your darling publication is repackaged to be more affable and satisfy your expectations. What you need to know about the bicycle revolution, green house gases and the cancer scourge, and several other stories can be read in this edition. In our quest to serve you better, we will welcome contributions that can make the Insight an internationally recognised tabloid. With your support we can attain this goal.
That the national road network grew from 6,500km in 1960 to 10, 000km in 1970 and 29, 000km in 1980
OC Oladele Editor In Chief Planning Advisory Unit Deputy Corps Commander
FRSC INSIGHT AUGUST 2011
06
Bicycle Revolution By ES John (ARC)
B
ICYCLE in Nigeria is a means of transport in our rural areas from the time of early civilization. Our parents still use them in the villages today. Globally it is now the global focus of urban transportation in developed and developing nations because of its unmatchable advantages. When planned it is a convenient means of transport with the lowest cost, no pollution and no traffic jam.
WHY BICYCLE TRANSPORTATION NOW? â– Congestion With 95% of total trips in Nigeria on the roads, there is no amount of transport infrastructural development that will match the influx of vehicles, considering the population growth rate of 2.2% (3.2) and a projected 98 million urban population by 2020 (NTM). This results from among other factors, the better economic state of citizens , socio-economic believe that rate people based on material possession especially vehicles and the nations passenger
FRSC INSIGHT AUGUST 2011
07
annual growth rate of between 1.6% to 2.7% (NTM). The various measures taken over time has not produced the desired result because it does not limit vehicle importation, neither does the prevailing driving culture and literacy level of drivers allow for anything better .
■ Cost 40% of our respondent's earn below N50,000 per month another 24% of them are dependants, yet 52% spends between N6,000-N15,000 another 24% spends above N15,000 as cost of transportation /fuel per month in Nigeria. Transport (15.5%) is second only to food (18.2%) as the largest item of household expenditure in Australia. the cost of buying and maintaining a bike in Australia, US & France is around 1% of the cost of buying and maintaining a car. The average useful lifespan of a car is about 10 yrs, while that of a bicycle is five years. If one buys a car for 1m and fuel/maintenance is N20,000 per month, he will spend N3.4m on his transportation in ten years. 1% of this plus 2nd bicycle is about N50,000. Government Effect On Cost CHINA - in Minhang, government provided the bicycles and can be rented for 2 Yuan equivalent to N16,380 per year, in some other provinces, cyclist only pay refundable fees. PARIS FRANCE - The bicycles are rented for an annual subscription of 29euro equivalent to N5,854.50 which can be spread into a weekly payment. LONDON; it is rented for a fee of 46.06 pounds equivalent to N11,068.50 per annum with the same system as China . COPENHAGEN, DENMARK; the public bicycles are free, you only pay a refundable fee. Non of these costs equal fuel cost for one month in Nigeria.
■ Air Pollution Carbon Dioxide (CO2); is the body's regulator of the breathing function. It is normally present in the air at a concentration of 0.03% by volume. Any increase above this level will cause accelerated breathing and heart rate with several consequences. Maximum allowable in industries is 0.5%. Nigeria contributes about 95.3mt million of CO2 to the global environmental pollution annually (UNFCC 2008 report). In Nigeria, CO2 emission from fuel combustion is 52.4mt million out of which 25.3mt million comes from road transport alone. (IEA 2010 report). Every one liter of fuel used by a vehicle emits about 4.7 pounds (0.0023mt) of CO2. If we have 1million vehicles using 20Lts each in FCT per day, we have 100million pounds (45,300mt) of CO2 per day. Kyoto protocol estimated that a CO2 concentration of less than 450ppm or 0.204mt needs to be maintained.
■ Reduction in Road Traffic Crashes International study by a group of scientist; “as the number& proportion of people bicycling and walking increases, deaths and injuries from RTC declines”-safety in number hypothesis (NHTSA 2009). Only 2% of all road crash fatalities is from bicycling in US even though 10% of all trips is by bicycle. Bicycle use has quadrupled over the last 20 years without any increase in crashes. Portland (Oregon) Bicycle Network. The British Medical Association (BMA) has noted that many people who would like to cycle do not because they are concerned about safety. However, a UK study has shown that, while about 140 people are killed each year while cycling, around 20, 000 others die prematurely due to a lack of exercise. The study has estimated that regular cycling provides a net benefit to personal health that outweighs its risk of injury by a factor of 20 to 1.
■ Exercise Cycling improves quality of life through exercise. Boris Johnson- Mayor of London once said, "What we are creating is not just a cycle hire scheme, but a new form of public transport of the greenest and healthiest of kinds”. Ebrard Marcelo - Mayor of Mexico City, on the purpose of bicycle said, “Recovering of public space, improved quality of life and protection of the environment, that's why all workers must bike to work at least once a month”.
FRSC INSIGHT AUGUST 2011
08
■ Job creation Use of bicycle will translate to job creation for our unemployed youths. That will be business opportunities for importers & sales merchants. It's a greater opportunity to begin production of our bikes.
THE BIG QUESTIONS Keke Napep are not permitted to enter all parts of the city, neither is every residence capable of paying for commercial taxis daily. There are no enough office buses neither are there motorbikes. ■ From the light rail/BRT stations that does not go through the streets, how will 350,000 commuters who would have parked their cars at home get to their offices? ■ Will it not be a big relief to turn the present car spaces in most of the offices to other important use since a 14 bicycle rack space is equivalent to one car space? ■ Will it not be a pride to spearhead this revolution that is ending traffic bottlenecks across developed and developing cities of the world as the lead agency in RTM?
WHAT FRSC CAN DO ■ Data - Gather relevant data on the state of Nigeria's urban transportation vis-avis public perception and showing our modal split. ■ Public Enlightenment - Creation of stakeholders' forum, Mobilization of Nigerians through massive public awareness and targeted public education to states and corporate organizations. ■ Master Plan - Design a bicycle master plan for Nigeria and recommend necessary works including a push for legislation, review of the Nig. Highway Code and the NRTR 2004. ■ Identify a model - Understudy two nations with success story and with similar statistics as Nigeria to recommend a model for the Country ■ Task Force - Liaise with relevant agencies to create an implementation / enforcement task force- Mexico city trained 450 policemen to specially handle enforcement, cyclists safety and security.
WHAT OTHER NATIONS ARE DOING ■ SHANGHAI, CHINA - Vehicle license-plates pegged to a particular number per month, it cost about 40,380 Yuan equivalent to N919,377.00 Now china have about 430 mil bicycles in use. ■ ARMSTADAM, NETHERLANDS - Has 40% of all traffic movements by bicycle. Biking is core to its transportation infrastructure, Government provided public bicycles for rent
COPENHAGEN, DENMARK - Spends about $10mil- $20mil per year on bike infrastructure additions and improvements. Cars are charged $5 (N750.00) per hour to park in any public space. Government provides free bicycle with a refundable fee. Today about 32% workers bicycle to work . ■
■ DAVIS,USA - City residence voted to get rid of public school buses, there are more bikes than cars, university of Davis banned almost all car traffic from its premises. Today 17% of all trips is by bikes. Boulder city spends average 15% of its transport budget on bicycle infrastructure, At least 95 percent of arterials have bike lanes or trails on them.
WHAT NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT CAN DO ■ Accept this transport solution & grant the political will for its success ■ Make budgetary allocation of 15% from all budgets on road infrastructure, transportation and FERMA to cycling & infrastructure ■ Participate and seek for funding from the African Green Fund, World Bank's Clear Technology Fund & other donor agencies ■ Implement the designed master plan with public participation through advocacy and job creation ■ Create an enabling environment for the sustenance of the cycling revolution
You & I only need to agree. It's a worthy journey Beginning it is the greatest challenge. Lets do it!
FRSC INSIGHT AUGUST 2011
09
Q
uotes QUOTES ON HARD WORK If I had eight hours to chop down a tree, I'd spend six sharpening my ax. Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) Politician, President of the United States No bees, no honey; no work, no money Unknown Source Every day's a perfect gift of time for us to use. Hours waiting to be filled in any way we choose. Each morning brings a quiet hope that rises with the sun. Each evening brings the sweet content that comes with work well done. Unknown Source It is quite possible to work without results, but never will there be results without work Unknown Source Every man's work, whether it be literature, or music or pictures or architecture or anything else, is always a portrait of himself. Samuel Butler (1612-1680) British poet and satirist. Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing. Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) 26th president of the U.S.
Whatever your life's work is, do it well. A man should do his job so well that the living, the dead, and the unborn could do it no better. Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968) The quality of your work, in the long run, is the deciding factor on how much your services are valued by the world. Orison Swett Marden (1850-1924) American author and founder of Success magazine. Work is a refuge of people who have nothing better to do. Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) Irish poet and dramatist.
FRSC INSIGHT AUGUST 2011
10
G
REENHOUSE gases are atmospheric gases that trap infrared radiation emitted from the earth, lower atmosphere, or clouds or aerosols and, as a result, cause positive radiative forcing (which means they enhance global warming). Many of these gases are naturally occurring and are essential to life on earth by providing a blanket for marine and terrestrial organisms. Without them, temperatures on earth would be intolerably cold. However, when their concentrations become too high, they may contribute to global warming to such an extent that they would make the earth intolerably hot. Nature has maintained these gases in the 'tolerable' range for billions of years, but human activities have been changing the concentration of these gases since the start of the industrial revolution, around 1850.
Green House Gases & Global Warming
WHAT CAUSES THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT? Life on earth depends on energy from the sun. About 30 percent of the sunlight that beams toward Earth is deflected by the outer atmosphere and scattered back into space. The rest reaches the planet's surface and is reflected upward again as a type of slow-moving energy called infrared radiation. Most of the significant greenhouse gases are long-lived and well-mixed. They include carbon dioxide, methane gas, oxide of nitrogen, and halocarbons. Ozone is longlived but is found in higher concentrations in cities, especially in the northern hemisphere. Water vapour is a greenhouse gas that is neither well-mixed nor long-lived. Because of this, its overall effect on global warming is the least understood.
PROPERTIES OF GREENHOUSE GASES Greenhouse gases vary in their ability to absorb and hold heat in the atmosphere, a phenomenon known as the "greenhouse effect." HFCs and PFCs are the most heat-absorbent, but there are also wide differences between naturally occurring gases. For example, nitrous oxide absorbs 270 times more heat per molecule than carbon dioxide, and methane absorbs 21 times more heat per molecule than carbon dioxide.
GLOBAL WARMING & GREENHOUSE EFFECT The greenhouse effect is a natural warming process of the earth. The theory is that when the sun's energy reaches the earth, some of it is reflected back to space while the rest is absorbed. The absorbed energy warms the earth's surface which then emits heat energy back toward space in the form of long wave radiation. This outgoing radiation is partially trapped by greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane and water vapour which then radiate the energy in all directions, warming the earth's surface and atmosphere. Troubling facts about the green effect include that the increasing amounts of greenhouse gases intensify the greenhouse effect. Higher concentrations of CO2 and other greenhouse gases trap more infrared energy in the atmos-
FRSC INSIGHT AUGUST 2011
11
phere than what occurs naturally. The additional heat further warms the atmosphere and Earth's surface. Climate models suggest this natural warming is being enhanced by human activities that increase concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and thus, in turn, intensify the greenhouse effect. The increase in atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases, accentuating the natural greenhouse effect globally, results in global warming. EFFECTS OF GLOBAL WARMING Global warming affects many different facets of life on earth. There will be winners and losers, even within a single region. But globally, the losses are expected to far outweigh the benefits. The regions that will get most severely affected are often the regions that emit the least green house gases. This is one of the challenges that policy makers face in finding fair international responses to the problem. Some of the likely effects of global warming include: Rise in Sea Level: It is a serious worry that rising sea levels from the melting of the polar ice caps could severely flood many countries. A rise in sea levels of one meter, which many experts are predicting by the year 2100 (and some as soon as 2030), would flood 15 percent of Egypt, and 12 percent of Bangladesh. The Maldives in the Indian Ocean would almost completely disappear. Water Resources: Many of the major rivers in Europe and Asia emanate from the glaciers in the mountains. For example, the whole of the grain producing northern belt of India is fed by rivers which originate from glaciers in the great Himalayas; electricity is also produced wherever the rivers are dammed. Health and Disease: It is a known fact that people today are inflicted by many new diseases unheard of in the last century. Increase in CO2 levels in the cities is the cause of pollution, and the effects of pollution are well documented. Global warming is also responsible for the introduction of some new diseases. Bacteria are known to be more effective and multiply much faster in warmer temperatures compared to cold temperatures. The increase in temperature has led to increase in the microbes that cause diseases. Agriculture: It is said that should there be a few degree heating up of the earth it would have a potentially negative effect on the production of corn in North America, where most of the world's food grain comes from. This would result in higher prices of food grain causing starvation in third world countries. On the other hand, it may so happen that colder regions further north would
be able to grow crops that have never been cultivable before. However, it is a known fact that the availability of cultivable land decreases as you go north. THE AVERAGE GLOBAL TEMPERATURE IS INCREASING QUICKLY Today, the increase in the Earth's temperature is increasing with unprecedented speed. To understand just how quickly global warming is accelerating, consider this: During the entire 20th century, the average global temperature increased by about 0.6 degrees Celsius (slightly more than 1 degree Fahrenheit). Using computer climate models, scientists estimate that by the year 2100 the average global temperature will increase by 1.4 degrees to 5.8 degrees Celsius (approximately 2.5 degrees to 10.5 degrees Fahrenheit). According to Larry West you can reduce Global warming through: 1. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Do your part to reduce waste by choosing reusable products instead of disposables. Buying products with minimal packaging (including the economy size when that makes sense for you) will help to reduce waste. And whenever you can, recycle paper, plastic, newspaper, glass and aluminium cans. If there isn't a recycling programme at your workplace, school, or in your community, ask about starting one. By recycling half of your household waste, you can save 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide annually. 2. Use Less Heat and Air Conditioning Adding insulation to your walls and attic, and installing weather stripping or caulking around doors and windows can lower your heating costs more than 25 percent, by reducing the amount of energy you need to heat and cool your home. Turn down the heat while you're sleeping at night or away during the day, and keep temperatures moderate at all times. 3. Change a Light Bulb Wherever practical, replace regular light bulbs with compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs. Replacing just one 60-watt incandescent light bulb with a CFL will save you $30 (N4,710) over the life of the bulb. CFLs also last 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs, use two-thirds less energy, and give off 70 percent less heat. 4. Drive less and drive Smart Less driving means fewer emissions. Besides saving gasoline, walking and biking are great forms of exercise. Explore your community mass transit system, and check out options for carpooling to work or school. When you do drive, make sure your car is running efficiently. For example, keeping your tires
properly inflated can improve your gas mileage by more than 3 percent. Every gallon of gas you save not only helps your budget; it also keeps 20 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. 5. Buy Energy-Efficient Products When it's time to buy a new car, choose one that offers good gas mileage. Home appliances now come in a range of energy-efficient models, and compact florescent bulbs are designed to provide more natural-looking light while using far less energy than standard light bulbs. Avoid products that come with excess packaging. If you reduce your household garbage by 10 percent, you can save 1,200 pounds of carbon dioxide annually. 6. Use Less Hot Water Set your water heater at 120 degrees to save energy, and wrap it in an insulating blanket if it is more than 5 years old. Buy low-flow showerheads to save hot water and about 350 pounds of carbon dioxide yearly. Wash your clothes in warm or cold water to reduce your use of hot water and the energy required to produce it. That change alone can save at least 500 pounds of carbon dioxide annually in most households. Use the energysaving settings on your dishwasher and let the dishes air-dry. 7. Use the "Off" Switch Save electricity and reduce global warming by turning off lights when you leave a room, and using only as much light as you need. And remember to turn off your television, video player, stereo and computer when you're not using them. 8. Plant a Tree If you have the means to plant a tree, start digging. During photosynthesis, trees and other plants absorb carbon dioxide and give off oxygen. They are an integral part of the natural atmospheric exchange cycle here on Earth, but there are too few of them to fully counter the increases in carbon dioxide caused by automobile traffic, manufacturing and other human activities. A single tree will absorb approximately one ton of carbon dioxide during its lifetime. 9. Encourage Others to Conserve Share information about recycling and energy conservation with your friends, neighbours and co-workers, and take opportunities to encourage public officials to establish programmes and policies that are good for the environment. Culled from: www.environment.about.com
FRSC INSIGHT AUGUST 2011
12
CHILD SAFETY ON ROADS Our Main Project - ROSOWA President In simple words, Chidinma Chidoka, the President of ROSOWA, is a conceptual, imaginative, and determined woman who places great value on human relationships and personal growth of her members. She a creative visionary committed to personal beliefs, driven by purpose and passion for child safety. Insight Crew had a chat with her recently.
FRSC INSIGHT AUGUST 2011
13
May we know you? I am Mrs Chidinma Chidoka, wife of the Corps Marshal and Chief Executive, Federal Road Safety Corps. I am also the president of Road Safety Officers Wives Association - ROSOWA Tell us more about yourself I was born in Ibadan; I lived most of my life in Ibadan and Lagos. I speak Yoruba language fluently. I went to the University of Ibadan where I studied law and then proceeded to law school. I practiced law for over ten years before I decided to keep it on hold to attend to other parts of my life, run my business and assist my husband in his duties as COMACE. So you speak Yoruba fluently? Yes What does ROSOWA mean?
We have a lot in our hands, as I earlier said; it is a lifestyle kind of work, something that brings about behavioural change in people. One of our main projects is the issue of child safety on the road. We want to grow a good road safety consciousness in our children. These days you have parents buying cars for their children which often time end up becoming a dead trap for these children. So we are reaching out to parents and children. We tell parents to take care of their children on the roads. Most parents know how to use seat belt but don't care much about child restraint. We also have a programme for children tagged stop, look and listen. These are the two main projects. Other projects are weaved into these two projects. For instance in May we had a coral competition focusing on songs poems etc composed by the children. It was an eye opening experience hearing from the children on how best to use the roads safely. The competition which went out for almost four weeks had winners in different categories. In subsequent edition, we intend to spread it to other parts of the country.
It is an association comprising the wives of all Officers in FRSC. Our primary duty is to assist our husbands in their jobs. It is a life style kind of job peculiar to changing human behaviour on the road which is the major cause of RTC. We assist with Public Enlightenment and a bit of advocacy. We offer support system for the wives since nature of the job requires officers moving a lot and their spouses who cannot move with them have to be living alone as single parents taking care of the children so we offer emotional and financial support. We keep our sanity as our husbands do their jobs.
The ability to bring about change inspires me. I think I am driven by change. I like to be an agent of change. I like making a difference no matter how little. I am a firm advocate of baby steps. My husband inspires me. He is what I call my role model, someone I am looking up to.
How can one join ROSOWA?
Who are your other role models?
Membership is automatic for women whose husbands are officers. We are still working out modalities for husbands whose wives are officers.
Strong women inspire me, one of such women is Hilary Clinton
What are your chief responsibilities as ROSOWA president?
I start my day early, I look in on my kids, making sure they get prepared for school, then I go for my gym and then my one and half hour which is very important to me. After that the rest of the day can just go with the flows such as going to the office, attending meetings and functions either with my husband or by myself. By 6pm, I am already home to spend the rest of the day with my children
My chief responsibilities as the president is to offer that support system for the women, to create an association where wives of officers feel that they belong, to offer a kind of leadership roles to the wives of the officers, to project the image of the association to the larger society as a good supporter of what our husbands do. The job our husbands do is a peculiar job that provides the platform for interaction with society. As a strong branch of FRSC we play the role of ensuring sanctity of lives on our roads. What projects is ROSOWA pursuing now?
You've been an inspiration to many. What inspires you?
What is a typical day at work like?
What advice would you give to people aspiring to take the position of leadership? For those desiring the position of leadership I would say keep a very open mind, try as much as possible to keep your life simple. If you have good old friends keep them close and
they will keep you in perspective. Be tolerant and accommodative. What would you consider to be the most interesting part of your job as the ROSOWA President? Is creating an association where every officers' wives feels that she contributes to the whole, an association that will help the women realize the importance of the job their husband do and feel proud of it. FRSC job is a job that gives a lot of fulfillment and purpose in life; I think the officers and their wives need to see it that way. Mine is to create an association where every member feels that she has a role to play. You were part of the Federal Government delegation to a retreat organised at Obudu Cattle ranch by Nigeria's First Lady, what were you taught there? It was a very interesting exercise; it was enlightening for us all. We were educated on what is expected of us as wives of government officials, how to provide leadership to the people we lead and how to carry ourselves with dignity and grace.
FRSC INSIGHT AUGUST 2011
14
How do you wish to replicate it to other ROSOWA members nationwide?
safety conscious generation that will help FRSC to become a world class organisation.
We had a retreat planed with Management but did not come to pass. I look forward to a retreat with my members where we can sit and create an enduring cordial relationship among ourselves. The retreat will also focus on effective public relations among members especially when dealing with the public. They will also be taught on how to raise their children alone when their husbands are not there without resentment for the government, the Corps and the officer himself. They will also be taught on how to dress, network and start a business. Though we have thing like that going but I will love to see beyond the present frontier.
You've had a unique path as president of ROSOWA. What is the most important lesson you learned along this path that you might not have learned if you'd taken another? I have learnt to have an open mind. I am not quick to jumping into conclusion. It has made me to keep my life simple. I have become more tolerant and accommodating. I have been exposed to a whole lot of women I would not have known if my husband has not been made the Corps Marshal. I have mummies and aunties in the association whom I have learnt a great deal from. The association has broadened my horizon in life. What is your vision for the Road Safety Officers' Wives and how will you want to see ROSOWA in the next five years?
How does ROSOWA assist the surviving dependants of the officers? We have a scholarship scheme where we support children of Officers and Marshals that die not only in the course of duty. We have scholarship for the primary and secondary levels; we want to take it to the tertiary level especially for those that are willing to further their studies beyond the secondary school level. For the wives, we have helped those that had wanted to start businesses. Our doors are opened to retired and late officers' spouses; we invite them to our functions. As a support network group, we tell them that our doors are always open for them. What relationship does ROSOWA have with the Marshals Wives Association? We formed the Marshals Wives Association this year, we have them inaugurated .We play supervisory role. The association has a very large group and we have been monitoring them. They hold their meetings quarterly which indeed have been very impressive that we are thinking of allowing them to meet on monthly basis. What ways is ROSOWA going about in making membership drive attractive to spouses of FRSC officers? A lot of the officers don't encourage their wives and a lot of the wives don't know what to expect. We have a good number in Abuja that attends the meeting but in relation to the married officers, it is still very low. We try to project ourselves as people that want to make an impact in the society hoping that it will attract them. Personally, I don't believe in forcing people to join the association as they
Will not give in their best. Let them see what we are doing and perhaps they will be convinced to join and contribute their quota.
I would love to see an association that is an army, a force to reckon with. A ROSOWA that will take advocacy on child safety very serious. A ROSOWA that will take the issue of child safety to the National Assembly. I will want to see successful women that will have a grip in their homes, offices and business. Very powerful women that can get anything done.
How do you see FRSC in the next 100 years?
How did you meet your husband?
Will there still be work for FRSC in the next 100 years? It's hard to see. May be in 100 years people will not be dying on the roads. I see an elite breed organisation that every other organisation would want to be like. An organisation that is doing something so simple yet complex.
I met him when I was about going to law school, then he was working with the Ministry of Transport. We met in the then Minister of Transport house. The rest is history
The Corps is moving towards becoming a world class organisation, what is the role of ROSOWA in making this dream a reality?
He is a good man, a good husband and father. He is not a usual man; he cooks, washes the plates. He did the children diapers when they were very young. He comes in as a friend
We have something to give to the man and woman on the road; we are advocating a lifestyle of good road culture. I believe FRSC is a very peculiar organization which makes ROSOWA more peculiar. Our job is more of PE and advocacy, reaching out to parents and children. We have a monthly campaign which can be likened to special patrol. We are aligned to the Accra declaration of 50 percent reduction in road traffic crash by 2015. We go to schools especially where there is traffic built-up and interact with motorists, most time we have the school authorities inviting us to talk in the classroom. I think that is a huge role we are playing. By educating the children, we are sowing a seed of raising a
What type of husband is he?
Are you not bothered that being married to a very successful and handsome man, will make other women want to distract him from you? I don't think so, the alternative is worst , I don't want to be married to an ugly and unsuccessful man, I will rather take the risk. What are your hobbies? I like travelling, reading and dancing. My ultimate form of relaxation is watching television.
FRSC INSIGHT AUGUST 2011
15
Drunk Short Stories
Driving O
One of the worst deaths that could happen to anyone is to die in a motor crash; it is more painful when such crash is caused by someone else's carelessness. I have had and seen accidents that could have been avoided if the driver was a little more careful. Most disturbing is a crash caused by drunk driving. We can avoid these crashes if we pledge to stop drunk driving. Here are some stories that touch the heart on drunk driving. I hope that it will touch yours...
n the last day before Christmas, I hurried to go to the supermarket to buy the remaining of the gift I didn't manage to buy earlier. When I saw all the people there, I started to complain to myself, "It is going to take forever here and I still have so many other places to go. Christmas really is getting more and more annoying every year. How I wish I could just lie down, go to sleep and only wake up after it...� Nonetheless, I made my way to the toy section, and there I started to curse the prices, wondering if after all kids really play with such expensive toys. While looking in the toy section, I noticed a small boy of about 5 years old, pressing a doll against his chest. He kept on touching the hair of the doll and looked so sad. I wondered who was this doll for. Then the little boy turned to the old woman next to him, "Granny, are you sure I don't have enough money?" The old lady replied, "You know that you don't have enough money to buy this doll, my dear." Then she asked him to stay here for 5 minutes while she went to look around. She left quickly. The little boy was still holding the doll in his hand. Finally, I started to walk toward him and I asked him who did he want to give this doll to. "It is the doll that my sister loved most and wanted so much for this Christmas. She was so sure that Santa Claus would bring it to her.� I replied to him that maybe Santa Claus will bring it to her, after all, and not to worry. But he replied to me sadly. "No, Santa Claus cannot bring it to her where she is now. I have to give the doll to my mother so that she can give it to her when she goes there." His eyes were so sad while saying this. "My sister has gone to be with God. Daddy says that Mummy will also go to see God very soon, so I thought that she could bring the doll with her to give it to my sister." My heart nearly stopped. The little boy looked up at me and
FRSC INSIGHT AUGUST 2011
16
said, "I told daddy to tell mummy not to go yet. I asked him to wait until I come back from the supermarket." Then he showed me a very nice photo of him where he was laughing. He then told me, "I also want mummy to take this photo with her so that she will not forget me." I love my mummy and I wish she doesn't have to leave me but daddy says that she has to go to be with my little sister." Then he looked again at the doll with sad eyes, very quietly. I quickly reached for my wallet and took a few notes and said to the boy, "What if we checked again, just in case if you have enough money?" “Ok," he said. "I hope that I have enough." I added some of my money to his without him seeing and we started to count it. There was enough for the doll, and even some spare money. The little boy said, "Thank you God for giving me enough money.� Then he looked at me and added, "I asked yesterday before I slept for God to make sure I have enough money to buy this doll so that mummy can give it to my sister. He heard me." "I also wanted to have enough money to buy a white rose for my mummy, but I didn't dare to ask God too much. But He gave me enough to buy the doll and the white rose." "You know, my mummy loves white rose."A few minutes later, the old lady came again and I left with
P
uzzle LEGEND ROAD SPEED SKID HELMET MANIFEST OVERLOAD BREAK DISTANCE PERSANGER RIDER SLOWDOWN DRINK
my trolley. I finished my shopping in a totally different state from when I started. I couldn't get the little boy out of my mind. Then I remembered a local newspaper article 2 days ago, which mentioned of a drunk man in a truck who hit a car where there was one young lady and a little girl. The little girl died right away, and the mother was left in a critical state. The family had to decide whether to pull the plug on the life-assisting machine, because the young lady would not be able to get out of the coma. Was this the family of the little boy? Two days after this encounter with the little boy, I read in the newspaper that the young lady had passed away. I couldn't stop myself and went to buy a bunch of white roses and I went to the mortuary where the body of the young woman was exposed for people to see and make last wish before burial. She was there, in her coffin, holding a beautiful white rose in her hand with the photo of the little boy and the doll placed over her chest. I l eft the place crying, feeling that my life had been changed forever. The love that this little boy had for his mother and his sister is still, to that day, hard to imagine. And in a fraction of a second, a drunk man had taken all this away from him.
SAFE DRIVING X F J O F J G K D O Y A D D W U H A K N K O Y R B R E A R D I A C R E D E I V S N E O S I F E G A C A R R R Y E D O D E
D K W J I D K R I E G A A F C
C H H A R T H I K G R N A I N
G Q G S D E E P S H P D V L A
B N I P E E D M A N I F E S T
B K H G R D A O L R E V O G S
P N R E G N A A R E P A R M I
N W O D W O L S A E H U T L D
FRSC INSIGHT AUGUST 2011
17
top4
Cancer Foods ■ Hot Dogs: Because they are high in nitrates, the Cancer Prevention Coalition advises that children eat no more than 12 hot dogs a month. If you can't live without hot dogs, buy those made without sodium nitrate. ■ Processed meats and Bacon: Also high in the same sodium nitrates found in hot dogs, bacon, and other processed meats raise the risk of heart disease. The saturated fat in bacon also contributes to cancer. ■ Doughnuts: Doughnuts are cancer-causing double trouble. First, they are made with white flour, sugar, and hydrogenated oils, then fried at high temperatures. ■ French fries: Like doughnuts, French fries are made with hydrogenated oils and then fried at high temperatures. They also contain cancer- causing acryl amides which occur during the frying process. ultimate form of relaxation is watching television.
FRSC FRSC INSIGHT INSIGHT AUGUST AUGUST 2011 2011
18
A
s part of the need for the Federal Government under the leadership of president Goodluck Jonathan to implement policies that will aid the development of the citizenry not only on aggregate levels but that which will have a positive effect on the individual, the Federal Government has introduced a transformation agenda with Nigeria's vision 2020 and the 1st national implementation plan (NIP) as the anchors on which this agenda is built. This transformation agenda was borne from a need to proffer a lasting solution to the problems of lack of continuity, consistency and commitment to agreed policies, projects and programmes as well as an absence of a longterm perspective. The culminating effects of these have been the growth and development of the Nigerian economy without a concomitant improvement in the welfare of Nigerian citizens thereby resulting to rising unemployment, inequality and poverty. In view of this the current administration has responded to this need in its transformation agenda, which covers the period of 20112015. In its composition, the presidential committee was inaugurated and the committee outlined the skeletal structure of the agenda to: â– Identify the key policies, programmes and projects to be delivered within the next four to five years. â– Phase the projects and projects and programmes to ensure that they inform the administration's future budget proposals during 2012-2015. â– Propose a suitable monitoring mechanism for the identified projects and programmes including regular presentations by ministers to FEC on their relevant areas of activity.
The committee on February 17, 2011 was inaugurated comprising of ministers and special advisers with the Hon. Minister/Deputy chairman NPC as the chairman. The report of the committee set up to look into this agenda covers issues such as macroeconomic framework and economic direction, governance, sector priority policies, programmes and projects of the following key thematic areas (i) Real sector (ii) Infrastructure (iii) Human capital (iv) Enablers (which includes private investment, finance mobilization, external economic relations and diplomacy, etc.) and (v) Monitoring and Evaluation. One of the key areas that was addressed in the transformation agenda is the micro economic framework and economic direction. The GDP growth rate which averaged 8% from 1999-2010 is expected to rise to 11.7% per annum with the new transformation agenda. This will translate to real and nominal GDP of about N428.6b and N73.2t respectively at the end of the programme period in line with vision 2020 target. This will be driven largely by oil and gas, agriculture, solid minerals, ICT equipments and softwares, telecommunication, wholesale and retail trade, tourism and entertainment, manufacturing and building and construction sectors. The public sector will account for 60%(N24.45t) while the private sector will account for40%(N16.30t) of the total investment size of N40.75t in nominal terms projected for the programme period.
FRSC INSIGHT AUGUST 2011
19
The key instruments to be used to achieve this are the macroeconomic policy choices to be pursued by government during the period by ensuring greater harmony between the fiscal and monetary policy, review of the budget process to provide greater clarity of roles between the executive and the legislature and to ensure that appropriation bill is enacted into law in the first month of the year, review of existing revenue allocation formula to achieve a more balanced fiscal federalism, expediting the passage of the planning and project continuity bill in order to strengthen the plan-budget link and reduce the high incidence of abandoned projects. Also, another key instrument is job creation as presently the growth of the labour force is far exceeds the employment opportunities being created. The rate of unemployment mostly among the youth school leavers is on the increase with11.9% in 2006, 14.6% in 2007 and 21.1% in 2010. The agenda is set to implement a youth employment safety net support programme that includes cash transfer and vocational training, reviewing university curricula to include industry job requirements and apprentiship, partnering with locals by foreign construction companies and implementation of mandatory skill transfer to Nigerians by foreign construction companies. Furthermore, the public expenditure management is also very important as there is a need to manage the capital and recurrent expenditure by the government. In recent past, precisely in 1999-2003 recurrent expenditure has fluctuated between 47.5%-80.29% while capital expenditure constitutes about 19.71% of total government expenditure. Capital has increased continually to 38.37% in 2009 and government had to borrow to finance recurrent expenditures by 2011. To remedy the situation, through the transformation agenda government will entrench a culture of accountability by sanctioning and prosecuting erring officials. Governance is another key area in the transformation agenda to be addressed in the transformation agenda. Good governance in terms of political governance, economic governance, corporate governance and effectiveness of institutions. The 2011-2015 agenda will focus more on addressing governance challenges which will in turn focus on security, law and order, the legislature, anti-corruption measures and institutions, the judiciary, economic coordination and support for private investment. This will be achieved through a well reformed judicial system and ensuring justice in all sectors through reduction in cybercrimes, terrorism and corruption. Also, the foreign policy and economic diplomacy will be achieved through trade regulations and effective information and communication systems as the world is a global village. In order for Nigeria's foreign policy goals to be achieved it is imperative that Nigeria missions are properly focused and well funded. Furthermore, the legislature whose performance is relatively less than optimal is also to be addressed by the agenda. The agenda seeks to improve the activity of the legislature in the passage of bills and policies as delays slow down the economic growth of the country. Other activities includes regular auditing of the activities and publication of annual reports of the National and state legislature to provide transparency. Human capital development policies, programmes and projects which is strategic to the socioeconomic development of a nation and includes health, labour and employment and women affairs. It is also targeted at ensuring that the nation's human resource is endowed with knowledge and skills to ensure proper utilization of resources. The major areas of interest in the transformation agenda is ensuring development of education through the provision of infrastructures, enabling learning environment, and enhancing the competence level of teachers. Also, the health sector will also be developed in line with the vision 2020 alongside the National strategic health development plan (NSHDP). Furthermore, labour and productivity is also of concern as the government through the transformation agenda is set to implement the National action plan on employment creation (NAPEC) targeted at creating 5m jobs annually within the next 3 years and the establishment of more skill acquisition centres as well as the implementation of local content policy in all the sectors especially in the oil and gas to boost job creation. Real sector policies, programmes and projects in terms of agriculture, water resources, oil and gas, solid minerals, trade and commerce as well as culture and tourism. The agenda is set to enhance generation of wealth through import and export of agricultural products, industrialization and employment opportunities through agriculture, efficient exploitation and utilization of agricultural products and development of technologies to improve production. In manufacturing, the government is set to promote private sector involvement and an enabling environment for significant improvement, increase manufacturing local content and linkages with other sectors of the economy, ensure global competitiveness with manufactured goods, make Nigerian manufactured goods a major foreign exchange earner in the world thereby
FRSC INSIGHT AUGUST 2011
20
achieving economic development. in the area of oil and gas, ensuring promotion of private investment, deregulation of the oil industry and promotion of environmentally friendly oil and gas exploration and methods, strengthening capacity building programmes in core areas, gas flare-down to reduce pollution and increase revenue as well as adequate gas supply for domestic use and power generation and local content development. Infrastructure policies, programmes and projects through development in power sector, information and communication technology, transportation, Niger Delta development as well as the FCT. There are strategies put in place to ensure significant improvement in such areas as N1, 896t has been proposed for reforms in the power sector between years 2011-2015. In the ICT sector, a total of N22.2b has been earmarked for reforms and improvement of the policies while N4, 465b has been earmarked for transportation. The Niger Delta region development will cost N335.05 to ensure peace and stability as well as sustainable socio-economic development in the region. Distribution of key programmes and projects by sector. The key priority programmes and projects to drive the transformation agenda are selected from 20 MDAs and sectors. A total of 1613 projects have been identified; out of which 22% are ongoing. After thorough scrutiny, 685 projects were admitted into the programme during 2012-2015 period.Enablers for sustainable growth and development which includes laws, regulations, policies, public infrastructures, public services and international trade agreements that facilitate the activities of economic agents making it possible for them to be competitive, function optima;;y and operate profitably. The role of government with this agenda is to reduce the length of time and cost of business registration, modification of tax system reduction in the time and cost of building permits, ensuring easy access to affordable long term finance among others. Financing and implementation of strategies for the KPPPs. Embedded in the transformation agenda is the funding options that have the potential to provide adequate, reliable and timely financing for the KPPPs fall into three categories: â– On-budget funding â– Off-budget funding and â– Private sector resources
The government through this agenda is set to implement strategies by managing prudently the scarce resources and by imbibing the discipline of planning, transforming the budgeting process among others. Also project preparation and management of strategies of government is also an important part of implementation strategies expected to achieve in the transformation agenda. Economic coordination is another important aspect. This will be taken at three levels: planning, policies and programmes by relevant agencies.
INTEGRATED MEDIA SOLUTIONS