By Cliffsimeon Akalonu
The Federal Road Safety Corps, Safeway Special Marshal Units 13 & 82, Apostolic Faith Church West and Central Africa, Anthony Village, Lagos, has celebrated her 25th anniversary with a walk of life, photo exhibition and Thanksgiving service.
The event which started with a “walk for life” from Apostolic Faith church premises at Anthony village to Maryland was accompanied by 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, SM Dennis Olabisi, 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 roads and to 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 and 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.”
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 four former 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 encouraged 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 everywhere 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 assistance.”
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 and 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.”
During the walk for life, there was a brief stopover at the Anthony Village Divisional Headquarters of the Nigeria 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.