The Commissioner for Special Duties, Mrs. Amaka Ilobi, has charged residents of Onitsha and Awka to use pedestrian crossing while crossing the expressway.

Speaking to journalists in Awka, Mrs. Ilobi said this would save them from avoidable accidents and promote safety on roads in line with the policy of Governor Willie Obiano's administration.

The Commissioner said the state government expended huge resources to construct the pedestrian crossings and quality road network to enhance movement of the people and socio-economic activities but regretted that some people instead of using the facilities chose to risk their lives and the lives of others by running and competing with fast moving vehicles on the highway, while some others climb across drainage system to move from one lane to another.

Mrs. Ilobi explained that road safety measures should be a collective efforts of the government and the people so as to achieve a common goal of protecting the life of everybody through responsible use of roads and road infrastructure as well as obeying traffic rules and regulation.

She expressed satisfaction with Governor Obiano's commitment to the welfare of the people and noted that the Governor's support to the Federal Road Safety Corps and other Federal Agencies is yielding the desired dividends and urged other stakeholders to join hands with the government to sustain enlightenment and reorientation of the people on the need to promote safety on all roads.

Also speaking, the Deputy State Chairman of APGA, Chief Titus Anagbogu, extolled Governor Obiano for giving the state proper and focused leadership that is uplifting the lives of the people and noted that with only a year and half, he has transformed the entire landscape of Awka with necessary infrastructure to upgrade it to a befitting capital while satellite towns are springing up around the city and environs.

Chief Anagbogu observed that while other states are grappling with the burden of unpaid, the Governor has maintained regular payment of salaries, and sustain tempo of work on capital projects.

He said the three on-going fly over bridges are changing the outlook of Awka and when completed, would enhance free flow of traffic and urged pedestrians to use the pedestrian crossing while crossing the expressway and commended the Commissioner for Information culture and Tourism, for initiating regular enlightment and reorientation of the people on attitudinal change and security measures.

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