OYO WOMEN JOURNALISTS SEEK ADEQUATE PROVISION OF ZEBRA CROSSING

The project flagged off by the Chief Medical Director of the University College Hospital (UCH), Prof Abiodun Otegbayo was jointly executed by the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) and Gate of Praise Foundation (GOP), a Non-Governmental Organisation(NGO) for the safety of lives of road users.

The Chairperson  noted that the zebra crossing become necessary in front of University College Hospital(UCH), going by the influx of people crossing the road to access their healthcare in the hospital, adding that the women journalists are not only doing it for the hospital, but for the safety of patients and relatives who come to the hospital.

Hear her ‘considering the numbers of people crossing this road to access their healthcare, we decided to do the Zebra crossing so that it will be easier for our people to cross conveniently and safely’,Ajibola explained.

“After our discussion with the founder of Gate of Praise Foundation (GOP), Akinwale Laosun, he gave us his support to ensure safety of lives of our people, UCH is not only rendering service to Oyo State, but the institution is rendering services to Nigeria, and the world at large.”

Penpushing further reports that, the female journalists’ leader however called on well-meaning Nigerians to join hands and contribute their own quota in order to make Nigeria a better and beautiful place to live.

The Assistant Director, Planning, Research and Strategy, National Orientation Agency(NOA), Akanbi Aderogba said that the agency has embarked on aggressive sensitization programs to educate the people on the needs to follow the rules of zebra crossing for the safety of their lives while crossing that road.

“Our agency has a good working relation with other security agencies in the state, and to let both the drivers, riders and road users to know the importance of zebra crossing”, Aderogba explained

Penpushing also reports that, in his reaction,  Chief Medical Director of the University College Hospital (UCH) Prof. Abiodun Otegbayo noted that the zebra crossing will reduce accident in front of the hospital, adding that Government should also enlighten the people on the rule of zebra crossing, ‘because most of the road users do not obeyed the rule’.

“There is a need to educate road users, drivers, and riders on the importance of obeying zebra crossing rules, the zebra crossing will help a lot because many members of our staff used to come through Mokola axis, therefore they dropped here, and need to cross the road, attimes reckless drivers comes in with speed, thereby causing injuries to our staff, patients and their relations.”

The Deputy Corp Commandant of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Oyo State Sector Command, Olalekan Morakinyo, while speaking at the event said that zebra crossing is meant to provide safety for the pedestrians on the highways.

Penpushing reports that, the corps boss noted that where ever there is zebra crossing, motorist/driver must stop 1meter before the zebra crossing, for the people to cross the road, and no driver must overtake, adding that most of the drivers don’t used to stop at zebra crossing point, and this is what led to some accidents.

“People crossing the road at zebra point  should also look well to make sure that the drivers has stopped before they cross, this is one of the ways to protect live of the people moving on the high ways”, he stated