The Ogun State deputy governor, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, has commended the State’s Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency, TRACE for supporting the economy of the state by ensuring that people and goods move efficiently across the nooks and crannies of the state.
He, however, emphasise that there is a need to adopt digital platforms that would aid real-time reporting of traffic situations, simplify its traffic management process and enhance traffic data collection.
The Deputy Governor gave the commendation and the charge at the Agency’s annual Corps’ Commander’s Conference for TRACE commanders, with the theme; ‘Capacity Building for Effective Data Collection and Protection Beyond Compliance’ held at the Obas Complex in Okemosan, Abeokuta, the state capital.
The Deputy Governor, who was the chairperson at the event, added, “In addition to keeping the road safe, your work supports the economy of the state by ensuring that people and goods move efficiently across the nooks and crannies of the state.
This conference is an opportunity to reflect on past achievements, recognising gaps, and charting a new course for greater efficiency and impact. We must focus on aligning our system with modern realities. This includes embracing innovation, fostering collaboration, and building trust with the public.
“Effective traffic management in today’s world requires more than enforcing compliance. It requires data-driven strategies. Traffic data collection is a cornerstone of modern road safety management, enabling evidence-based policy-making resource allocation and long-term planning”, she said.
The Deputy Governor also challenged TRACE to lead in innovation, saying, “Technology provides a wealth of opportunities to redefine traffic management and data collection. You can collaborate with technology companies for innovative solutions, such as digital reporting platforms. I want you to look into the possibility of providing mobile apps that allow citizens to report traffic incidents in real-time.”
She advised the Agency to collaborate with the private sector on the possibility of developing mobile apps that would allow citizens to report traffic incidents in their areas to assist the agency in precision and timely interventions.
In his presentation, Prof.Samuel Odewunmi, of the School of Transport and Logistics,Lagos State University, supported the Deputy Governor’s line of thought, noting that the rapid growth of urbanisation, motorisation, and infrastructural development has significantly increased the demand for reliable traffic data in modern cities.
While he called for accurate and comprehensive traffic data collection, he said, “Ogun State can develop a sustainable and forward-looking traffic data ecosystem that will enable data-driven policy making, enhance road safety, optimise traffic flow and contribute to the broader socio-economic development goals.”
Also in his presentation, Prof.Adeniji Adesanya of NISER,Ibadan, talked about addressing intelligent transport system in traffic management, stressing that traffic economics concerns how traffic system impacts an area’s economic prosperity, product pricing and supply.
He underscored the deployment of approximate intelligent transport system by TRACE and other stakeholders in road safety sphere “in fulfilling their mandates, as well as improving their overall performance.”
He said the ITS include number plate detectors, speed cameras and traffic signal control system among others.
Dr.T.O.Salam, who addressed the issue of accessing of data information for traffic management and mitigating crashes on Ogun traffic corridors, said such data could be sourced from both primary and secondary sources in particular areas of focus.
He said: “This information is needed if there are re-occurrences of a particular incidence and information needed to mitigate or stop the occurrences.”
Making his remarks earlier, Ogun State Head of Service, Kehinde Onasanya, underscored the importance of the conference stressed that the conference, stating that “it is an indication of the state government’s commitment to building the capacity of its workforce.”
He said: “This conference serves as an excellent example of the government’s commitment to grooming a more capable and responsive workforce. For any meaningful development to take place in the civil service, capacity building is the way to go.”
The Commissioner for Transportation, Engr Gbenga Dairo, noted that effective data collection would ensure traffic compliance and sustainable response to the needs of the travelling public.
“It is through effective data collection that we can create lasting changes, ensuring that our traffic systems are not only compliant but also sustainable and responsive to the needs of the travelling public.”
The TRACE Corps Commander/CEO, ‘Seni Ogunyemi, advocated for effective provision of road furniture like road signs, directional signs among others in order to reduce carnages on the roads.
“He noted that collection is very crucial because “it will help in policy formulation and strategic planning.”
While he added that the agency would adopt digital innovation in traffic management as suggested by the deputy governor, he pleaded with the government to assist in the acquisition of the relevant technology to make their job seamless.
He said the senior officers who attended the conference would in turn ho nack to their various zones and units and impact same on the junior cadre operatives in TRACE.
Other highlights of the event was the presentation of awards to the Deputy Governor and other deserving government officials among others.
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