Create Pedestrian Routes For School Children, Gombe Gov’t Urged

BY NAJIBULLAHI ADAMU

A child rights activist and executive director of a Non Governmental Organization (NGO) based in Gombe State known as ‘Advocacy For Children’s Right Initiative’ Barrister Martha Daniel has called on the state government to create safe pedestrian routes for all school children in the state.

The activist made the call in a press statement issued exclusively to our correspondent yesterday where she noted that the request has become necessary in view of the series of incidences on the roads where school children are hit by cars and motorcycles on their way to or from schools.

“Over the years, we have observed that school children particularly in Gombe metropolis; Hassan Central, Science 2 Kwanan Agric, Orji School etc have had to struggle with vehicles on the highways while going to and returning from schools.

“This poses a threat to the children, parents and the entire society because in the event of an accident, children and parents and if not properly managed the entire society will pay for it. It is on the heels of this that we thus make the following recommendations.

“That safe pedestrian routes should be created for school children. That the shoulders on our roads should be barricaded and interlocked to serve as pedestrian routes for school children.

“That barricaded shoulders that are closed should be open to serve as pedestrian routes for school children. For instance, those barricades in front of Board of Internal Revenue, Ministry of Budget and Planning”. She stated.

She also appealed for the diversion of traffic from routes leading to schools in the morning and afternoon hours particularly on Fridays ‘since all schools closes by 12:00 noon’.