By Cliffsimeon Akalonu
The Federal Road Safety Corps, Safeway Special Marshal Units 13 & 82, Apostolic Faith Church West and Central Africa, Anthony village Lagos, celebrate her 25th anniversary with a walk of life, photo exhibition and Thanksgiving mass.
The event which started with a “walk for life” from Apostolic Faith church premises at Anthony village to Maryland was accompanied with well decorated catch them young road safety club to mark the anniversary.
The Unit Commander, SafeWay Special Marshal Unit 13 & 82, Apostolic Faith Church, West & Central Africa, Anthony village Lagos, said, the reason for the ‘Walk For Life’ road show, was to create awareness and give Sensitization to the general motoring public on the proper use of our roads and to as well mark the 25th Anniversary of our dear unit.
While speaking, he said that the FRSC is categorized in two parts, the Regular and the Special Marshals, which the primary duty of a Special Marshal is to enlighten people, create awareness as well as organize programs that will enhance the road safety activities.
He said that, the walk for life as tagged for the celebration of the 25th anniversary of Safeway Special Marshal unit 13 & 82 could also be taken as part of the ember month program.
SM Dennis Olabisi, went forward to say that, the unit has achieved a lot which no other unit has done. For example, we are in a life collaboration with the ministry of Information & Strategy for our annual public enlightenment campaign which comes up every December. We also have a befitting office complex which no other unit can boast of this and we have acquired buses which is useful to both the state, zonal, national and units.
Unit 13 & 82 since establishment, was the sole printing and distributor of road safety flyers, to units and sector level, he said”.
He said that, the reason behind the photo exhibition was that most children who see the pictures of members and founding fathers who have gone in the course of achieving safer roads, can be motivated to join this volunteers to achieve the same course.
SM Julius Ozallo, who is one of the fourth(4) past unit coordinators, expressed gratitude to God almighty who has brought the unit this far. He said, back then when we started in 1994, we were not up to 15 but later on, people started showing interest in the job that we are doing and by the grace of God we can boast of two units.
He encourage people not to look into what they can gain but what they can offer to our fatherland by helping the struggle to reduce carnage on our roads. During my time as the unit coordinator, the roads were not as much and bad as it is now, but now, everyone is rushing to go first thereby causing blockages every where and that is the reason why we must continue to assist the road safety corps.
SM Ozallo, congratulated the District superintendent of Apostolic Faith Church, West & Central Africa, Anthony village, for always being there for us tremendously with assistants.
Also speaking after the “walk for life”, SM Jeremiah Adewole, said that people should be cautious of this ember month period, because of the risks that comes with it and that drivers should not drink & drive, always obey road rules and regulations because the dead don’t celebrate only the living that celebrates.
The Welfare Officer, Safeway Special Marshal, Units 13 & 82, SM Susanna Ayodeji in an interview said that, the unit has done beyond expectations in terms of public enlightenment, road shows, safety campaigns to both federal and state to make sure we achieve safer roads for motorists and all road users.
She stated that she never regretted joining the special Marshal because its rewarding when you save lives, so for this reason, I am happy to have found myself here, she said”.
She said, it is also important to obey traffic rules and regulations because it will help keep you alive because wise road users stays alive.
During the “walk for life”, there was a brief stopover at the Anthony Village Divisional Headquarters of the Nigerian Police.
The event witnessed the sharing of flyers to motorists and pedestrians, with notations (Wise People Obey Traffic Regulations) and (Don’t Drink and Drive), as well as photo exhibition.