The Ogun State Government has commenced a training for field personnel of Ogun State Road Safety Survey, aimed at generating reliable data that will be useful in tackling rising cases of traffic congestion, accidents and poor road infrastructure across the State.
The training anchored by the State Bureau of Statistics, at the Training Hall, Federal Secretariat building, Oke Mosan had in attendance staffers of the Bureau and personnel of the Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency, TRACE.
Speaking at the event, the Statistician General, Mrs. Omolara Adebayo, stated that the State's proximity to Lagos, coupled with rapid industrialization, expanded urban centres and increasing population had led to a significant rise in vehicular movement and road usage, a situation that sometimes lead to vehicular accidents
"While those developments present enormous economic opportunities, they also place considerable pressure on our road infrastructure and transportation systems. Issues relating to traffic congestion, road conditions, road-user behavior, inadequate road safety facilities and traffic management require continuous attention," she said.
The Statistician General, stressed that effective solutions could not be based on assumptions or anecdotal evidence, adding that reliable data were essential for understanding the situation and developing appropriate interventions.
Adebayo, noted that findings from the survey would guide efforts to reduce road crashes, improve traffic flow and ensure safer movement of people and goods across the State, noting that the Bureau had started training of field personnel who would be deployed across the 20 Local Government Areas to collect data for the exercise.
In his goodwill message, the State Director, National Bureau of Statistics, Mr. Akinbogun Olumide, emphasised that part of the data for the survey would focus on road structure and conditions including potholes, which would help government to plan and put measures in place to prevent accidents and other mishaps on the roads. He urged field personnel to report all findings objectively and to conduct themselves with utmost professionalism at all times.
On his part, Director, Planning, Research and Statistics (PRS), TRACE, Commander Ojuoro Olusola, revealed that the essence of the survey was for planning and policy making, while imploring the personnel not to compromise standards.
Earlier in his address, Director, PRS, Ministry of Finance, Mr. Sulaimon Kolawole, stated that monitoring and evaluation were key to the survey process highlighting the responsibility of field officers in collecting accurate road data through collaboration with relevant agencies, including TRACE and the Police and ensure the information reported was reliable.
Funmilayo Alero,
Information and Public Relations Officer, Bureau of Statistics
