NIGERIA- The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Mr. Osita Chidoka, has inaugurated riding of bicycles as means of transportation in Abuja, the capital city of Nigeria, yesterday.

This was part of activities marking the 2013 Africa Road Safety Day and World Day of Remembering Road Traffic Crash Victims.

Speaking through the Deputy Corps Marshal in charge of Motor Vehicles Administration, Danjuma Garba, the Corps Marshal said the campaign was to show how healthy riding of bicycle is.

“Physically, people live longer when they use bicycles and the campaign is aimed at getting every road user in this country to embrace the use of bicycles.

“This is necessary so that we have safer roads. In terms of environment, riding bicycles would also reduce pollution and traffic congestion’’, he added.

Chidoka also appealed to government to provide road infrastructure which would accommodate bicycle riders and that those that will be riding bicycles should always wear their crash helmets.

The Chairman, Governing Board of FRSC, Mr Felix Chukwu, said the inauguration was symbolic because it drew people’s attention to the wisdom in riding bicycles.