Chinedum Treasure
Anambra state government has disclosed plans to approach State House of Assembly for an amendment to the extant traffic law to impose tougher sanctions on dangerous driving.
Commissioner for Information & Value Reformation, Law Mefor who disclosed this on Tuesday said the move was part of decisions reached during the State Executive Council’s sixth meeting aimed at deepening good governance, environmental sustainability and public safety in the state.
According to him, offences such as driving against oncoming traffic and driving across dual carriageways to shorten U-turn distances will attract very heavy fines and a Mental Status Examination (MSE).
He explained that the measure was intended to curb recklessness and protect lives on roads in the state.
“The Council reaffirmed its commitment to open governance and welcomed constructive public criticism.
“However, it strongly condemned the spread of fabrications and falsehoods on social media, describing them as criminal defamation.
“Public servants whose character and reputation are injured by such fabrications were advised to seek legal redress.
“Content creators were also cautioned to distinguish between fair criticism and criminal fabrication.
“The Council further reiterated the government’s resolve to sustain the fight against fake native doctors, fake pastors, and other fraudulent practices,” he disclosed.
Mefor further revealed that ANSEC resolved to deepen the intervention at the grassroots following state of emergency on the environment declared two Saturdays ago.
He said communities would be mobilised to take proactive steps against erosion and to enforce compliance against practices that worsen it, including dumping refuse in drainages, channeling runoff water from homes directly onto roads as well as building on water channels
“Primary and secondary schools will play a central role in the mobilisation to entrench environmentally responsible behavior among young people,” he added.
The Commissioner further disclosed Council’s approval for standardization and digitization of all motor parks in the state to improve the quality of transport services.
According to him, the modernisation would ensure minimum infrastructure benchmark for parks and streamline intrastate and interstate commuting.
“Parks that fail to meet the set standards within the stipulated grace period will be phased out.
“The Council reviewed progress on the Nigeria for Women Project (NFWP), a Federal Government initiative supported by the World Bank and aimed at improving the socio-economic well-being of rural and peri-urban women.
“As the first standalone programme dedicated to women’s economic empowerment in Nigeria, NFWP seeks to bridge gaps in opportunity, skills, and resources.
“Strategies were mapped out to ensure that women targeted by the programme in Anambra State receive the full benefits,” Mefor stated.
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