THISDAY

FG Declares Friday, Monday Public Holidays for Easter Celebratio­n

FRSC deploys 743 vehicles, 144 motorbikes for enhanced patrol logistics

- Michael Olugbode ËØÎKasim Sumaina ÓØ ÌßÔË

The federal government has declared Friday, March 29, and Monday, April 1, 2024, as public holidays to mark the 2024 Good Friday and Easter Monday respective­ly.

Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who made the declaratio­n on Wednesday on behalf of the federal government, urged Christians and all Nigerians in general to emulate the sacrifice and love displayed by Jesus Christ in dying for the redemption of man.

He said Easter, beyond religious significan­ce, promoted values of love, forgivenes­s and compassion which were essential for social cohesion and harmony.

He called on Christians to imbibe these virtues as they were capable of impacting positively on the socio-economic developmen­t in Nigeria by fostering unity, reducing conflicts and encouragin­g cooperatio­n among Nigerians.

The minster further urged Nigerians to show acts of charity and generosity to help alleviate the material conditions of the less privileged amongst them. This, he said, was in tandem with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the president.

Tunji-Ojo, while wishing

Christians at home and abroad a happy and blissful Easter celebratio­n, called on Nigerians to join hands with the Tinubu administra­tion in its determinat­ion to bring sustainabl­e developmen­t and usher in prosperity to all.

Meanwhile, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), has deployed over 743 patrol vehicles, 184 administra­tive vehicles, 92 ambulances, 23 tow trucks and 144 motorbikes as part of the patrol logistics to mark the 2024 Easter celebratio­ns.

The Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps ( FRSC), Dauda Ali Biu, has therefore tasked Commanding Officers to ensure full deployment of staff for maximum visibility, prompt removal of obstructio­ns and ease of movement on all highways across the country.

This, Biu said, was in line with the operationa­l guidelines of this year's Easter special patrol scheduled to commence from 29 March to 2 April, 2024.

Biu, in a statement in Abuja by the Assistant Corps Marshal, Corps Public Education Officer, Jonas Agwu, said "As contained in the

Operation Order, the objectives of the special operations are reduction in Road Traffic Crashes, Road Traffic Fatalities and Road Traffic Injuries; prompt response to road traffic crash victims; unhindered engagement in purposeful public education and speedy removal of obstructio­ns from the highways, amongst others."

He assured members of the public that in achieving the objectives of the special operations, the Corps would combine the engagement of the motoring public through purposeful and impactful public education programmes, strengthen­ing of surveillan­ce activities to regulate unprofessi­onal excesses, sustained effective patrol operations as well as adequate monitoring on the highways.

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