Daily Trust - the online edition

Lack of a towing van for rescue operations is a source of worry for the Abaji unit command of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), City News learnt yesterday.

The officer who spoke to our reporter on condition of anonymity said the two towing vans used to remove vehicles causing obstruction and for rescue operations have been grounded for the past one year.

He said not having such vehicles is an embarrassment for the commission as the Abaji-Lokoja highway is one of the busiest roads that witness frequent accident on daily basis.

"The command now depends on Bulletin and Road Construction Company (RCC), to assist in towing broken down trailers and accident vehicles from the road," he lamented.

He said whenever there are multiple accidents on the road; it takes between 3-6 hours to clear the road.

According to him, the command has in the past complained to the FRSC headquarters to refurbish the two towing trucks that are grounded or procure new ones without positive response.

Reacting, the Zonal commander of the FRSC in charge of FCT and Niger State, Mr.D.A Garba, said the issue of safety is a collective responsibility that the commission established with the construction companies in the area during emergency cases on the road.

"Though the commission is aware of the broken down towing trucks in Abaji command, plans have been concluded to refurbish the two grounded towing trucks in order to make it functional," he said.

Mr. Garba further disclosed that FRSC has established a clinic in Abaji and Mokwa that is equipped with drugs and nurses.

He described the two areas as prone to accidents, adding that the clinic would only attend to accident victims, whose conditions are serious.

He said such victims would be given first aid treatment before they are taking to the hospital.