As 2017 grinds to an end, the Federal Road Safety Corps {FRSC} has announced that it has stepped up activities geared towards ensuring that irresponsible drinking and misuse of the alcohol beverages – usually on the increase during Christmas and New Year festivities – are considerably reduced.

Corps Public Education Officer, Cops Commander Bisis Kazeem, disclosed this at the Don’t Drink and Drink campaign organised in partnership with the Nigerian Bottling Company Plc at Ojota, Lagos.

Cops Commander Kazeem who represented the Corps Marshal, Mr. Boboye Oyeyemi, listed the mix of activities as inter zonal patrol, intra zonal patrol, increased sensitisation programmes {in places of worship and motor parks}, enhanced enforcement on speed limiting device and servicing of its ambulances and tow trucks nationwide.

Cops Commander Kazeem decried the attitude of some motorists who consume alcoholic drinks and “still go ahead to use their vehicles on roads, and pose a threat to other road users”.

 He dismissed the belief that frequent cases of road crashes during the “ember months” is linked to any spirit killing people, blaming the trend instead on “increase in human and vehicular movement”.

He described the FRSC/NBL campaign, which is marking its 10th edition, as an indication that the Nigerian Breweries is not only concerned with brewing and selling its products for profit, but also committed to saving the lives of its customers. 

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“This campaign is, therefore, a timely reminder that drinking and driving does not only pose a threat to the life of the drunk driver, but also to the lives and properties of all road users (motorists, pedestrians, and even animals)”.

Addressing the rally which attracted members of transport associations, the Corporate Affairs Adviser of Nigerian Breweries, Mr. Kufre Ekanem, explained that the yearly campaign was conceived to discourage drink driving and enhance road safety.

Ekanem who spoke on behalf of the Managing Director of NB Plc, Mr. Johan Doyer, remarked, “We commenced this year’s campaign with a mega rally in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Like previous years, this year’s campaign will focus on the improvement of road safety awareness for all commercial drivers and draw attention to alcohol related accidents”.

FRSC Lagos Sector Commander, Hyginus U. Omeje, lamented that despite concerted efforts by the corps and the breweries in the country, driving under the influence of alcohol still accounts for significant percentage of road crashes.

Omeje, a Corps Commander, disclosed that two digital breatherlising machines donated to his sector two years ago, have been useful in detecting drunk-drivers, collecting relevant baseline data and storing test results that can be used in evidence during prosecution.

While flagging off the campaign, the Lagos State acting Commissioner for Transport, Anofiu Olanrewaju Elegushi, who was represented by Engr. Akinola Johnson, said the ‘Don’t Drink and Drive’ campaign is a welcome development.