The Nigerian Breweries has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on a safety awareness campaign to educated the motoring public on traffic hazards associated with drunk-driving.
Meanwhile the "Don't and Drive campaign" is to demonstrate the company’s commitment partnerships to encourage responsible consumption of alcohol.
Speaking during the formal endorsement of the partnership, the Managing Director Nigerian Breweries, Nicolaas Vervelde, said the Don’t Drink and Drive campaign was an important part of the company’s sustainability journey, tagged Brew a Better World.
He noted that the Brew a Better World strategy helped identify ways to contribute positively to the planet and society such as protecting water resources, reducing carbon emissions and sustainably sourcing of raw materials.
Nicolaas Vervelde also he stressed that the Don’t Drink and Drive Campaign was one of the ways they can give back to the society as part of their vision of winning with Nigeria, adding that since its launch in 2008, they have held 27 rallies in major cities across the country.
“Let me use this opportunity to thank the Federal Road Safety Corps for being a great partner in executing the Don’t Drink and Drive campaign. As a further demonstration of our continuous commitment to this partnership, we will today sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Federal Road Safety Corps to formalise the terms of our engagement going into the future
Vervelde said this year’s edition of the campaign will include public enlightenment sessions at motor parks in Port Harcourt, Lagos, Onitsha and Makurdi.
He added that there will also be a capacity building workshop for officers of the FRSC and leadership of National Union of Road Transport Workers.
He said messages communicated through these avenues will further enhance awareness of road safety and encourage positive changes in drivers’ behaviour in relation to alcohol consumption.
The Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of FRSC, Boboye Oyeyemi, said studies had shown that alcohol-related road crashes remain a major global issue over the years and the phenomenon can be averted if necessary precautions are taken.
He said stakeholders have continued to create adequate awareness on the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol.
Oyeyemi added that the Nigeria Breweries and the Federal Road Safety Corps have sustained this corporate engagement through the “Don’t drive and Drink” campaign which usually comes up during the Ember season as part of measures to address traffic peculiarities associated with the season.
According to him, annual global statistics show that road crash fatalities stand at about 1,3 million people, adding that road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death among young people, aged 15-29 years.
He reiterated that 80 percent of the world’s fatalities on the roads occur in low and middle-income countries.
Oyeyemi explained that if concerted efforts were not made by relevant stakeholders, road traffic crashes could result in deaths of about 1,9 million people by 2020. He also added that despite the scourge of road traffic crashes, it had not received sufficient political recognition by governments.
“According to the world road traffic injuries fact sheet No: 358 of 2013, only 28 countries representing 416 million (7% of the world’s population) have adequate laws that address all the five risk factors (speed, drink driving, helmets, seat belt and child restraint),” he said.
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