OOU don says technology innovation can reduce traffic challenges in Nigeria

Prof. Olayiwola Solanke, the Dean, Faculty of Administration and Management Science, Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) in Ago-Iwoye, said on Wednesday that technology innovation would reduce traffic challenges in Nigeria.

Solanke stated this in Abeokuta at the two-day Annual Commanders’ Conference and Retreat for Senior Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE) officers.

He also identified adequate manpower, requisite skills education, and regular training and retraining of traffic managers as measures to reduce traffic challenges in Nigeria.

Supreme News reports that Solanke delivered a lecture titled "Traffic Management Solutions and Capacity-Building as a panacea to traffic challenges in Nigeria."

He said that for the country to achieve the desired goals of effective traffic management, there was a need to adopt a technology-driven mode of operation.

“Some of the traffic challenges include road users’ behaviour, environmental pollution, inadequate urban roads, dangerous driving, the use of roads as refuse dumps, and poor traffic management.

"There is a need for adequate traffic infrastructure. You can’t manage efficiently if it is not in place.

“Adequate infrastructure must be in place before you can begin to enforce,” Solanke said.

He noted that transport played a key role in the socio-economic development of human settlements and solicited the cooperation of road users to adhere strictly to traffic guidelines.

The Dean also reminded traffic managers of the need to consciously coordinate traffic movement with a view to ensuring the free flow of traffic and reducing congestion and road crashes.

In his remarks, the State Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Gbenga Dairo, reaffirmed the commitment of the state government to strengthen the agency in a bid to enhance its operations.

In a remark, the TRACE Commander, Mr. Seni Ogunyemi, said the agency would embark on an advocacy campaign in secondary schools across the state as a way of instilling safety measures.

Ogunyemi noted that a total of 267 crashes were recorded between January and June 2023, with 429 people injured and 88 deaths recorded.

The TRACE official reiterated the continued commitment of the agency to intensifying a 24-hour service delivery initiative aimed at ensuring safe roads.