LAGOS, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Nigerian government on Tuesday alerted motorists on the circulation and dangers of using expired tyres ahead of the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.
Igbogbo Solomon, Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in Abuja, Nigeria's capital, who raised the alert, cautioned motorists in the country against reckless driving, excessive speed and use of expired tyres.
He expressed the concern that some motorists in the quest to embark on many trips during festive periods, drive recklessly, use expired tires and speed beyond standard limits.
The road official told reporters that accidents were not mere occurrences but due to negligence on the part of motor drivers and use of expired and second new tyres.
Solomon, the unit commander at Kuje area, identified speeding, driving on the influence of alcohol and over-loading of vehicles as the major causes of road accidents.
Meanwhile, the FRSC said in a statement reaching Xinhua in Lagos, Nigeria's economic hub that it is deploying 33,000 personnel and 859 vehicles for a nationwide special patrol during the Sallah to ensure free flow of traffic and check accidents.
Some 106 ambulances, 267 motorcycles and 22 tow trucks would be deployed for the exercise due to begin on Thursday and end on Sept. 6, the organization said.
The exercise will focus on traffic control, excessive speeding, dangerous driving/overtaking, clearance of obstruction, seat-belt use violation and use of phone while driving.
Others were lane indiscipline and route violation which had been identified as recurring factors for road traffic accidents.
The road commission advised motorists to adhere strictly to traffic rules and regulations as over 200 Mobile Courts had been set up to prosecute traffic offenders during the period.
Road accidents take place frequently in Nigeria due to reckless driving, bad road conditions and over packing. More than 1,000 are killed on the road each year in the country.
