Ember Months: Imbibe right attitude to road use, Gombe gov urges motorists

Gov Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State has urged motorists in the state to adopt good road use towards ensuring safety during this year’s Ember Months.

Yahaya stated this in Gombe on Thursday while inaugurating the 2025 Ember Months Campaign with the theme “Take Responsibility for Your Safety: Stop Distracted Driving.”

He stated that roads and related infrastructure alone could not guarantee safety unless road users, adopt the right attitude.

He said that the willingness to obey traffic rules and the readiness to share the road responsibly with others were fundamental for road safety.

Yahaya who was represented by Mr Danladi Adamu, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport, Gombe State urged road users and passengers alike to speak out against reckless driving.

“Every passenger has the right and indeed the responsibility to raise their voice when their safety is at risk. Safety on our roads is a collective responsibility.

“To our youths, I must express concern over the increasing misuse of substances and alcohol which has become a major contributor to preventable road crashes, injuries and deaths.

“I call on our young people to shun these harmful habits and embrace discipline, responsibility and care for human life,” he said.

The governor expressed the State Government’s readiness to continue to partner with the FRSC towards ensuring safety on roads across the state.

On his part, Mr Samson Kaura, the Sector Commander of FRSC in Gombe State said the EMBER months which runs from September to December of every year is usually known with high volume of human and vehicular movements.

Kaura said infractions like speeding, over loading, use of worn out tyres, use of phone while driving had impacted negatively on road transportation and road users.

“This year’s campaign is focused on enlightening the road users through various awareness and patrol operations which will help curtail and finally put a stop to these infractions.

“Another trending cause of deaths in Nigeria is mix loading of animals, goods and humans especially in open vehicles: also scooping of highly inflammable substance (premium motor spirit) from crash scenes involving trailer fuel tankers.

‍“These factors have claimed lots of lives and maimed many youths in our communities. To this end, we call on the motorist and youth alike to cut down on such dangerous acts,” he said.