By Demi Adeniyi
The Lagos State Government has said it will revamp its School Safety Traffic Advocacy Programme in its bid to enhance student safety and promote responsible road use.
The advocacy is spearheaded by the Ministry of Transportation to instil traffic safety awareness among students, teachers, and parents.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Hon. Sola Giwa who dropped the hint on Tuesday, emphasized that the programme will not only educate students on traffic rules but also equip schools with the knowledge needed to foster a culture of safety.
He said government has identified lack of traffic knowledge and poor road attitudes as key issues contributing to gridlock and road safety concerns, noting that the initiative is a comprehensive traffic safety education programme for students in public and private primary and secondary schools aimed at catching them young.
The Special Adviser reiterated that the programme will also foster safety consciousness, and promote responsible road use by young citizens, instilling traffic values in them at early age.
He mentioned that the relaunch of the advocacy programme underscores the state government’s renewed commitment to traffic safety education, representing a significant step toward ensuring safer roads for Lagosians and creating a traffic-conscious generation.
Giwa averred that majority of commercial drivers and professional drivers in the state are either primary school graduates or attempted secondary education without exposure to traffic safety education, saying children and young people share the road as pedestrians, passengers in vehicles or motorbikes hence the need for Traffic Safety Education as a priority of the state government.
The Transportation Special Adviser added that the programme will provide children and young people with the required skills to become responsible drivers, passengers, pedestrians, cyclists, and above all, responsible citizens. He urged all stakeholders to support the programme.