Sen. Babangida Champions Legislative Instrument for Safety On Nigeria’s Road
By Onwe Wisdom
Senator Babangida Hussaini Uba (jigawa Northwest Senatorial District) in the Red Chamber of National Assembly pioneered legislative instrument to enhance safety on highways across the country.
Sen. Babangida Champions the course through a Bill he sponsored which was read for the first time on
Tuesday, 26th November, 2024
“a Bill for an Act to make provisions for the regulation and safety of Articulated Vehicles in Nigeria and for other related matters, 2025(SB.655) ” and adopted for second reading on the floor of the Senate today.
Leading debate on the general principles of the Bill, Sen Babangida Hussani said
“The Bill seeks to make provisions for the regulation and safety of Articulated Vehicles in line with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended.
Said the overriding intendment of the Bill is to have a framework in place that seeks to ensure the reliability of vehicles, thereby reducing the risk of vehicle breakdown and minimizing road accidents.
He added …
“Consequently, the objectives of the Bill are, to conduct regular inspections of articulated vehicles, establish and enforce maintenance standards for articulated vehicles, reduce long-term maintenance costs, minimise harmful exhaust emissions and protect the environment, reduce incessant road accidents, enforce strict standards for tanker design and construction to prevent
leaks and explosions, conduct regular inspections and certification of tankers to ensure compliance with safety standards, implement measures to prevent drivers’ fatigue, by enforcing regular
breaks and rest periods; and to conduct public awareness campaigns to educate people on how to respond in case of a tanker explosion.”
Drawing the attention of the Hallow Chamber to the need for consistent inspection of vehicles to ascertain their road worthiness in the face of negligence, he said
“It is pertinent to state that one of the salient provisions of this Bill is the aspect that seeks to make it mandatory for vehicles to be inspected every six months, in order to ensure and guarantee their road worthiness. This is necessary in view of the fact that most of the accidents on our roads are caused by negligence of vehicle owners or drivers who most times, do not take road worthiness of their vehicles into consideration so long as they are moving.”
Appreciating the imperative for a legislation instrument to addressing and forestall re-occurrence of mishaps on Nigeria’s road, he said
“Mr. President, Distinguished Colleagues, just recently, we witnessed series of mishaps, resulting in Petroleum Tanker explosion in Jigawa, Lagos, Dakwa and other States of across the country. You will also agree with me that the persistent carnage on our roads, occasioned by haulage of petroleum products has made it imperative for a legislation of this nature to address and forestall future occurrence(s), hence the need for the Senate to support the expeditious passage of this Bill in view of its importance.
The Bill when passed and assented to will not have additional burden on the treasury of the federal government.
“Finally, Distinguished Colleagues, in compliance with Order 76 (3) of the Senate Standing Orders, 2023, as amended, the proposed Bill has no additional financial burden on the treasury of the Federal Government since the enforcement of the Bill will be under existing statutory body in the country upon passage by the National Assembly.”
The Bill in it’s entirety is problem solving and has no additional financial burden on government. Hence, the bill is promising and receiving the overwhelming supportof the Senate.
