Dangerous Goods’ Transportation: UN’s Amended Agreement Will Ensure Safety, Says FRSC

The amendment of United Nations’ agreement Concerning International Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road will ensure the safe transportation of the commodities in the country, Mr Bisi Kazeem, Spokesman for the Federal Road Safety Corps has said.

Kazeem said this in a statement on the amendment by United Nations Economic Commission for Europe after their meeting in UN headquarters, Geneva, Switzerland.

He disclosed that the Corps Marshal, Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, is attending the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the 1957 Agreement in Geneva, Switzerland, as a delegate where an amendment to the agreement was carried out.

Kazeem lamented that many accidents involving the transport of dangerous goods still occurred in countries all around the world.

He said that with the UN agreement, the risks of such accidents would be reduced.

“The Agreement concerning the International Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR) is a tried and tested United Nations instrument.

“It has helped to prevent such accidents and reduce the severity of their consequences for over 50 years.

“ADR also helps to ensure swift and effective emergency response in the event of an accident.

“Adopted at United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) in 1957 as a European agreement, ADR is a highly successful example of the positive impact of international harmonisation and cooperation on improving safety.

“In addition to countries of the Pan-European region, Morocco, Tunisia and most recently Nigeria have joined ADR.”

This Kazeem said had signaled increasing global demand for solutions for the safe transport of dangerous goods.

The ADR was among the six key UN international legal instruments serviced by UNECE.

It creates a legal framework addressing the main causes of road traffic accidents.