Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, was on Tuesday decorated as the Grand Matron of the Road Safety Special Marshals during a ceremony held in Abuja.
The honorary title is reserved for distinguished women who have made notable contributions to road safety advocacy and national welfare. The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, led the delegation that performed the decoration.
In her remarks, the First Lady expressed gratitude for the recognition and called for increased adoption of technology, stronger inter-agency cooperation, and stricter enforcement of speed limits to curb road crashes. She also stressed the need for more FRSC personnel on highways, particularly during festive seasons when traffic incidents are more frequent.
Tinubu acknowledged that many Nigerian roads still require major improvements, despite ongoing rehabilitation and construction efforts. She encouraged the FRSC to intensify public sensitisation and strengthen enforcement of speed regulations. She also underscored the importance of adequate support for victims of road crashes and children affected by such incidents, urging closer collaboration between the Corps and relevant ministries.
“We don’t want to see lives lost, especially during the Yuletide. More officers are needed on the roads to caution people, and speed limits must be adhered to,” she said.
Corps Marshal Mohammed said the honour was bestowed in recognition of the First Lady’s commitment to citizens’ welfare and her support for road safety initiatives. He noted that the role of Grand Matron signifies a national commitment to reducing road accidents and supporting FRSC’s safety campaigns.
Mohammed highlighted the alarming rate of road-related trauma in Nigeria, where over 6,000 deaths occur annually, leaving deep emotional and social impacts on families. He stressed the need for discipline, respect for traffic rules, and stronger national cooperation to help the Corps achieve its target of reducing auto accidents by 50 per cent by 2030.
He expressed confidence that the First Lady’s involvement would significantly boost advocacy efforts and enhance public awareness on road safety.
The ceremony followed the recent launch of the Road Traffic Crash Victims Day, which brought together more than 100 scholars and experts from various countries to discuss strategies for reducing road traffic injuries and deaths.
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