Posted by From News Desk on
Nigerian Breweries Plc, the nation's leading brewing company has expressed its willingness to partner the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), in its ongoing drive to promote safety on Nigerian roads.
Nigerian Breweries Plc, the nation's leading brewing company has expressed its willingness to partner the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), in its ongoing drive to promote safety on Nigerian roads.
Mr. Michiel Herkemij, Managing Director/Chief Executive, Nigerian Breweries, gave this assurance while responding to a request made by Mr. Osita Chidoka, Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of the FRSC, during the Commission's courtesy visit to the corporate headquarters of the company in Lagos recently.
Commending the Commission for helping to restore sanity to the nation's highways, Herkemij said Nigerian Breweries will fully buy into any initiative designed to make the roads safer for Nigerians.
The Nigerian Breweries Chief Executive, who said the company has more than 1,500 vehicles, including heavy-duty trucks, which ply the roads across Nigeria daily, added that it is in the process of phasing out trucks in its fleet that are more than four years old. The essence of this, he stated, is to ensure that only trucks in very good state of road worthiness ply the roads.
He also stated that the company has installed tracking devices in each of these trucks to monitor their movement at all times, adding that Nigerian Breweries conducts regular trainings for its drivers to sensitise them on their responsibilities. Herkemij pointed out that the company has an alcohol policy in place for both employees and consumers, as part of its campaign to promote responsible drinking and forestall the abuse and misuse of alcoholic beverages. He invited the FRSC Chief Executive to take the initiative to a higher level.
Earlier in his remarks, Chidoka expressed the commitment of his organization to promoting businesses in the country by creating a conducive environment for them to thrive. However, he enjoined corporate organizations to assist the FRSC by ensuring that their vehicles are road worthy, noting that rickety trucks constitute a major hazard on the highways.
He said the Commission has concluded arrangements to introduce a road safety certification for heavy-duty trucks in the course of the year, to ensure that only those that pass the test are allowed to operate. Consequently, he advised companies that utilize such trucks to upgrade them before the scheme takes off fully.
Noting that financial constraints are involved in the acquisition of new fleet of trucks, Chidoka said the FRSC will encourage the banks to give companies loan to enable them acquire brand new trucks.