The outgoing Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Mr. Osita Chidoka, on Monday in Awka, Anambra State, said the corps had recorded tremendous improvement in its performance in the years that he was in charge.

Chidoka, who spoke at the inauguration of the office complex of FRSC and the number plate manufacturing plant, said FRSC had surpassed its own expectations in ensuring that Nigerian roads were safe.

The corps marshal explained that the Anambra Sector Command office was the pilot of the kind of office that the corps had proposed to build across the country.

He said the number plate factory, with a capacity of 7,000 pairs of number plates per day, would serve the South-East and the South-South geo-political zones.

He said, “With the inauguration of this factory; that of Gwagwalada and Lagos, we now have a capacity to produce 20, 000 number plates per day. We consume about 15,000 to 20, 000 plates monthly across the country.”

He appealed to the state governments to ensure that markets built in locations that were 150 metres away from the highway to make sure that their activities did not impact on the highways.

Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State, who inaugurated the office and factory, commended the FRSC and other security operatives in the state for the good work done in protecting lives and property of the people.

“We are re-energising the local vigilante services by employing a retiring Commissioner of Police in Delta. We want to make sure that those criminals disturbing in the villages are dealt with,” he said.

He said land had been acquired at Ogidi in Idemili North Local Government Area for the construction of park for articulated vehicles travelling through the state.

He said, “It will take about 120 trailers per night. We will also build a hostel for them there. Trailers coming to the state must stay there if they are to pass the night.”

The Anambra State Sector Commander of FRSC, Mr. Hyginus Omeje, said that the unsafe attitude of motorists in the state remained the major cause of road traffic crashes in the state.

“We still have people who derive pleasure in over-speeding in spite of our campaigns that speed kills and those who derive joy in overloading their vehicles.

“The state is noted for over loading because of the commercial nature of Nnewi and Onitsha. I think with the kind of empowerment we have received, we will definitely tackle all these challenges,” he added.