Julius Berger,  FRSC Strengthen Partnership For Road Safety In Nigeria

Leading engineering construction company, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) have pledged to deepen their collaboration to enhance road safety across Nigeria.

This announcement followed a courtesy visit from the FRSC FCT Sector Command to Julius Berger’s headquarters on Tuesday, where the Corps praised the company’s long-standing commitment to quality and unwavering standards in road construction.

During the visit, FCT Corps Commander, Felix N. Theman, leading a delegation from the FRSC, commended the existing cordial relationship between the two organisations.

“With 28 years of experience in the Corps, I have had the privilege to closely collaborate with Julius Berger, particularly concerning the critical infrastructure projects they undertake across the nation,” Theman said.

He emphasised the crucial role of roads in Nigeria’s economic development. “No nation can progress without the necessary infrastructure to support its economy. Roads play a vital role in our daily lives. Julius Berger has distinguished itself through the quality of its work and the high standards it has maintained over the years,” he stated.

While acknowledging Julius Berger’s commitment to building high-quality infrastructure, Theman stressed the importance of responsible road usage.

“Nigeria has not yet reached a point where vehicles drive themselves; people still operate the vehicles. This necessitates character, discipline, and patience on the roads.

“We must ensure that the beautiful roads built do not become sites of accidents due to reckless driving or disregard for traffic regulations.”

He outlined the FRSC’s focus on enforcement, public education, advocacy, and guidance to improve road safety.

The man also highlighted Julius Berger’s consistent support of the FRSC over the years, recalling past donations of traffic cones and reflective jackets.

Julius Berger’s Director of Administration, Dr. Abdulaziz Isa Kaita welcomed the FRSC delegation and reaffirmed the company’s dedication to road safety.

“At Julius Berger, we view ourselves as partners in progress and are eager to continue our collaborations,” he said.

“We are proud of our reputation for quality, evidenced by the roads we have constructed in Abuja over the past 30 years. Recently, we received an award from the American Society of Civil Engineers as the Best Construction Company in Nigeria, recognising our consistent quality.”

Kaita also pointed to innovations like the Cold Recycling Technology being used on the Abuja-Kano Expressway.

He added that Julius Berger prioritises safety, equipping its trucks with weight and speed-limiting devices and conducting annual driver certification and defensive driving courses.

“We are a fully owned Nigerian company with the core value of collaboration underlining our every action insofar as in doing so, such collaborating organisations identify with the Nigerian-friendly people,” Kaita affirmed.

Julius Berger’s Corporate Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Manager, Peter Drillingcourt, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the company’s close relationship with the FRSC, particularly in the areas of road crash clearance.

“We are investing a lot in the training and retraining of our drivers, especially in defensive driving. We have even introduced accident-free bonuses and annual medicals for all our drivers to get the best from them in the discharge of their duties,” Drillingcourt said.

The FRSC FCT Management Team present included Deputy Corps Commanders (DCC), II Nzapisma; Superintendent Route Commander, JS Aina, Superintendent Route Commander, Adedeji Adesoye, and Assistant Route Commander CC Igbo.

Accompanying Dr. Kaita from Julius Berger were the Corporate HSE Manager, Peter Drillingcourt, Assistant HSE Manager, Trust Ekaji, and representatives from the Media Relations Office, Olivia Uzoma and Emmanuel Isibor.

The strengthened partnership between Julius Berger and the FRSC promises to yield significant improvements in road safety across Nigeria through improved infrastructure and a shared commitment to promoting responsible road usage.