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Motorcyclists: Chose Between
Death and Helmet
One would need the assistance of the widely read The Graphic to
express his view on the significance of using helmet by cyclist in
various parts of the country.
The rampant and high rate of road accidents on our highways,
claiming lives of several prominent and promising young men, women
and children alike, had pinched my heart over the years.
Scientifically, the human head, being the place brain is located, is
one of the important and most delicate part of human body. This
head, through the brain, plays numerous roles to make the body
functional.
It is, however, generally observed that the fastest way to death
when road accident occurs is through the head injury.
Therefore, the need for preserving the head by cyclists inevitable.
I, therefore, suggest that the government should re-enforce the law
that will make it compulsory for the cyclists and their passengers
to wear helmet. This will help to safeguard and prolong the lives of
Nigerians.
I also appeal to Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) to watch over
the unruly attitudes of road users. Overspeeding, overloading,
driving while dancing, the use of GSM phone while driving by the
motorists should stop.
It is not unusual to see motorcyclists using GSM phone while riding
on two-wheel machine.
In our ororthopaedic hospitals, a census of those who die in
accident involving private or commercial motorcycles are
unimaginable. In some hospitals, a whole ward is reserved for those
who are victims of motorcycle accidents.
Most accidents are linked with head injuries, some of which either
kill or make the victims, to have brain disorder. It means we need
to do something that would preserve the life span of these
productive segment of the society.
Members of FRSC must enforce the use of helment no matter whose ass
is gored. There shouldn’t be selective application of safety rules.
After all, it is for the good of the society. Several bread winners,
youths in their prime and loved ones have been consigned to graves
in circumstances that would have been preventable.
Ishaka writes from Ankpa
Making Everyone Indispensable
By Sunday Alao
In May 2002, Nigeria’s Federal Executive Council approved the
establishment of the Nigerian National Volunteer Service (NNVS). The
whole essence of the scheme is to serve as the focal point in the
effort to mobilize and facilitate the involvement of the Nigerian in
Diaspora in the country’s development process. It is also to
mobilize, encourage and utilize the skill and experiences of
Nigerians living in Nigeria, “who during their career or after
retirement from the private or the public sector, are willing and
able to offer their service in volunteer work”. In other words, the
scheme was created to promote volunteerism and encourage its
utilization for national development.
The scheme did not take effect until 2004 with the federal
establishment of the NNVS office and the subsequent appointment of a
National coordinator for the scheme.
It is not in doubt that not a few Nigerians are doing exploits in
foreign land. The desire of government therefore is not to shut them
out of what is happening back at home especially as it relates to
development. NNVS is therefore, a way of promoting collaboration
between Nigerians abroad and those at home to facilitate the steady
development of the country in all spheres.
Each state of the federation is thus encouraged to establish similar
offices and embark on extensive global campaign to intimate
Nigerians in the Diaspora on initiative to collaborate and expand
the development frontiers of the country.
At the moment, Kogi State is one of the 25 states that has already
established such office and has gone ahead to appoint Hon. Samuel
Olu Akerele as Senior Special Assistant, NNVS while Hon. Ibrahim
Itodo would serve as the scheme’s secretary. The duo has been
saddled with the mandate to pioneer the scheme in the state. They
are to work round the clock to renew and awaken the Nigerian
Diaspora particularly, those of Kogi origin’s interest in the
developmental prospects of the state.
Like the national scheme, Hon. Akerele in an interview said NNVS in
Kogi State has been established to mobilize and facilitate the
involvement of Kogites in Diaspora in Kogi’s development process and
in promoting volunteerism.
According to him, the office has lined up various sensitization
seminars to get the public fully aware of the mandate of NNVS in the
state stressing “that not much can be achieved at the moment without
adequate sensitization on the gains of volunteer job”.
Concurring, Hon. Itodo said a seminar had already been fixed for
December 5, 2008 adding that, the office would be collaborating with
all tiers and arms of government to achieve the desired result. He
said the task ahead required that all hands are put on the deck.
Already, the duo disclosed that the state government has been
receiving signals from one Nigerians in Diaspora to collaborate in
some key areas like health, education, youth empowerment, water and
so on. However, things would not work until the stage is set for
Kogites at home to imbibe the spirit of volunteerism.
Government, they had both argued, cannot do everything and as such,
there is the need for partnership. In this case, “every one has what
he or she can contribute. A man that does not have the resources,
has his intellect to contribute or even his skill”, explained Hon.
Akerele.
The scheme, no doubt, seem laudable but the fear has always been
that, it may go the way of other similarly laudable schemes. Is
there the political will to make it succeed?
Can the leadership attract enough public confidence for the scheme?
Will the scheme not be another drain pipe or even worst ill, a mere
political project without clear cut action?
Now that the structures of the scheme in Kogi State seems to be on
ground, a conducive working atmosphere must be provided. To start
with, a befitting office should be provided and the necessary
takeoff grant released. The political class must realize that the
scheme has what it takes to reduce the burden of the “electorate”,
(the political class) often carried on their shoulders.
NNVS is all about being useful to oneself-pulling ideas together for
the development of the country.
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