The Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) has appealed for stronger collaboration with key stakeholders to improve traffic management, reduce road crashes and enhance safety on major highways across the state.
The call was made by the TRACE Commander, Elias Omonayajo, during an interactive session with representatives of industries operating along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway and the Abeokuta–Sagamu Interchange, held at the agency’s headquarters in Abeokuta.
Omonayajo emphasised the need for collective action to curb indiscriminate parking on highways, which he described as a major contributor to road accidents in the state.
He disclosed that the agency would intensify sensitisation programmes and training for truck and articulated vehicle drivers on the dangers of illegal and indiscriminate parking.
Represented at the meeting by the Director of Administration and Supplies, Mr Abubakar Adeduntan, the TRACE commander urged stakeholders to closely monitor their drivers and ensure compliance with traffic rules and regulations.
“As a government agency saddled with the responsibility of saving lives and protecting property on our roads, TRACE will not condone indiscriminate parking or inhumane acts on the highways,” he said. “There is a need for continuous and intensified education and retraining of truck drivers to reduce crashes on major roads, bearing in mind that safety is a shared responsibility.”
Omonayajo warned owners and drivers of articulated vehicles against reckless driving and driving against traffic, noting that such violations would attract strict sanctions. He added that the interactive session with stakeholders would henceforth be held on a quarterly basis.
He further explained that the meeting was aimed at reinforcing the importance of obeying traffic laws at all times, advising drivers to park only at designated areas approved by the state government or provided by their companies.
On road safety, Omonayajo urged drivers to always check the condition of their vehicles before embarking on journeys to prevent breakdowns on highways.
He also warned that trucks found parked on the roadside, even under the excuse of mechanical faults, would be towed away, adding that a special task force had been constituted to tackle the menace, with enforcement and apprehension of offenders set to commence soon.
In their separate remarks, representatives of International Breweries, Mr Olaosebikan Olumide, and Apples and Pears Company, Mrs Stella Sanyerr, commended TRACE operatives for their prompt response to accident scenes and swift clearing of roads to restore traffic flow.
They also praised the agency’s 24-hour service delivery initiative, which they said had contributed to improved safety on Ogun roads.
The stakeholders assured TRACE of their commitment to ensuring that their drivers make proper use of designated parking facilities and pledged their cooperation with the newly constituted task force.
They further appealed to TRACE to ensure that an emergency service phone line remains available at all times for rapid response to road incidents.