Nigerian Breweries (NB) Plc says it has entered into a partnership with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to ensure safety on the highways by discouraging habit of drinking while driving.

Mr Kufre Ekanem, the Corporate Affairs Adviser, NB Plc, made this known at a news conference on the campaign tagged: “Don’t Drink and Drive” in Lagos on Thursday.

Ekanem said that the partnership was part of the company’s long-term agenda on responsible consumption campaigns.

According to him, Don’t Drink and Drive Campaign is a corporate social responsibility initiative designed to improve safety on Nigerian roads by discouraging the habit of drinking while driving.

“The campaign is designed to improve safety, especially among the commercial drivers and motorcycle riders, young people with access to cars and private car owners and drivers.

“The sustenance of this initiative for 10 years is no doubt a demonstration of our commitment to the promotion of safety on Nigerian roads.

“The campaign involves enlightenment rallies for drivers in various cities, deployment of print and electronic media messages and distribution of fliers.

“We also offer free medical checks such as blood pressure and eye test for participating drivers during the rallies.

“Since inception, we have held enlightenment rallies in popular motor parks and other locations in 39 cities and towns across Nigeria on safety purposes.

“In the process, we have engaged over 16,000 drivers and other road users with a higher number of people impacted through mass media messages,” he said.

Ekanem lauded the efforts of FRSC for its continued commitment to the promotion of road safety in the country.
Also, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, the FRSC Corps Marshal, said that the corps had upheld improved consultations and collaboration as one of its core values.

Oyeyemi, represented by Mr Bisi Kazeem, the Corps Public Education Officer, urged vehicle owners to install speed limit devices as part of the measures to reduce the speed-related road crashes.

According to him, collated information through ICT initiatives, have been the bedrock of the corps tremendous efforts to reposition its road traffic administration machinery through the informed deployment of human and material resources.

“As an intelligent-driven government agency, the corps has identified some road vices.

“Traffic light violation, route violation, use of cell phone while driving and reckless driving are most prevalent, among other causative factors that lead to road crashes,” he said.