The Imo State Government has inaugurated the 2014 Technical Committee on Annual Rating exercise to ensure an accident-free Yuletide in the state.

The committee headed by former Commissioner for Petroleum and Environment, Prof Okee Okoro, was inaugurated Monday by Secretary to the Government of Imo State (SGI), Sir Jude Ejiogu, in his Cabinet Office along Sam Mbakwe Road, Owerri.

Sir Ejiogu charged members to work assiduously in ensuring that the state is ranked first among other states in the federation in line with the United Nations resolution on accident reduction.

He, therefore, challenged them to do everything possible to sensitse all motorists in the state on the need to imbibe the spirit of safety on the wheel, maintaining that the rescue mission government would write their names in gold if the state appears first as the most accident free-state during and after the Christmas season.

According to Sir Ejiogu, the only way the committee would achieve this is to work collectively as a team, and by passing messages to the hinterlands where information gatherings are hampered.

The SGI further expressed optimism that the committee would perform as expected going by the caliber of persons that make up the group, while reminding them to do their best as part of their efforts in complementing the achievements of Governor Rochas Okorocha in the state.

In his acceptance speech, Chairman of the Committee, Prof Okoro expressed happiness on their appointments and thanked the state government for finding them worthy to serve, while assuring that their functions would not trample upon the fundamental rights of the citizenry.

•Photo shows Sir Ejiogu.