Oyo State government says it would start implementing the restriction of the movement of trucks and long vehicles to night operations, probably between 9:00pm and 6:00am, on certain routes in the state.
The Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on Projects and Infrastructure, Engr. Seyi Adeleye, told journalists that the decision became necessary in a bid to manage smooth commuting, dissipate gridlock and decongest traffic and fatalities caused by articulated vehicles on roads in the state, after the maiden meeting of the State Public Works and Transport Infrastructure Development Committee, in Ibadan.
The Special Adviser revealed that the Oyo state government is set to draft and implement a new transport policy to make transit easier and less clumsy, saying the committee has began working on ways to implement restriction of trucks and long vehicles to night time operations and dedicated routes in the state.
Adeleye stated: “The transport policy will include night sailing plans for trucks and heavy-duty vehicles, journey management and junction improvement, among others, to decongest roads during rush hours.
“We have to make plans to solve the existing traffic gridlocks and make plans for the impending gridlock that could arise from economy expansion that the inland dry port will bring as there will be loading of trucks from the port, and they will need to move to their destination,” he disclosed.
He asserted that the committee would also design plans that are applicable to the environment as what works in other climes may not work in the state, noting that the committee would come up with solutions that would directly and positively impact the situation in the state.
Putting an end to unnecessary violence
Speaking earlier, the Chairman, Oyo State Road Traffic Management Authority (OYRTMA), Mogaji Akin Fagbemi, said the agency would see to the birth of a post-crash care policy that would enhance first aid, while also ensuring quick access to health facilities in case of fatalities.
Fagbemi applauded the planned implementation of the restriction, saying such would ease the stress of OYRTMA officials and towing vehicles and put an end to the era of unnecessary violence by some of the drivers.
He said the agency would also ensure that traffic is coordinated in internal roads where there is rarely the presence of personnel of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in the state.
Fagbemi added that the restriction is part of government’s efforts at curbing consistent road crashes attributed to operations of long vehicles on the road.
The committee is made up of stakeholders from all ministries and agencies that are directly involved in road activities, first aid and traffic management.
Emmanuel Ukoh
