The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Boboye Oyeyemi

  • FRSC Traffic radio goes on air soon – Corps Marshall

    FRSC Traffic radio goes on air soon – Corps Marshall

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Traffic Radio Station will go on air very soon, Corps Marshall Boboye Oyeyemi has said.

    Oyeyemi told the Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in New York that the radio station would be fully dedicated to traffic information in the country.

    “All over the developed countries, you see you’re on the highway, you just tune to the Traffic Radio, on the spot and get the traffic situation.

    “When the station takes off, every 30 minutes, you should be able to tune on.

    “I should be able to give you the situation between Abuja-Kaduna, Lagos-Ibadan, Enugu-Port Harcourt and Benin-Asaba,and for  all the highways in the country and also let you if any crash has occurred or if the road condition is bad.”

    According to him, the station would attract the public because of the specialised it would offer.

    “It should have the audience in such a way that we can give accurate information on any part of the country in terms of situation and traffic management.

    “That is what it all centres about and part of the thing is also to improve on the advocacy, education and enlightenment.

    “I think it’s the platform that we’ll be able to use to disseminate more information. It’s purely going to be for Road Safety so that this would also cut down the costs of our using other stations.

    “The public will be able to have phone-in programmes. We have other programmes that will be able to enlighten the public.

    “I believe globally, we are also going to have the App; our Traffic Radio application that you can download.

    “So that means anywhere you are, you should be able to monitor what is going on and make your contribution towards improving road safety management in Nigeria,” the FRSC boss said.

    Oyeyemi also said that the Federal Government was encouraging the States to set up their own State Traffic Management Agencies, adding 16 states so far have done this.

    The corps marshall said FRSC had achieved 40 per cent compliance with the installation of speed limiting devices by commercial drivers, aimed to reduce road crashes.

    “We started on the 1st of February this year, so far we’ve recorded about 40 per cent compliance and that is just about five months.

    “So I believe as we are moving on now and gradually, we’re getting the responses before the end of the year, and this is also reflecting in the traffic crash reports.

    “We’re having gradual reduction of crashes involving commercial vehicles while we are having increase in private; it shows that this effort is going on gradually.

    “Even though there are some resistance by some unions that has resulted into mob attacks on our personnel, we remain undaunted in respect of this and we continue,” he said.

    Oyeyemi said FRSC was focusing on commercial vehicles now because majority of Nigerians depended on public transportation.

    He noted the Federal Government’s efforts on integration transportation mode, making the rail, inland waterways and the air transportation systems to be more efficient.

    “I believe if we have complete integration of our transportation mode, our road safety will be much better,” the FRSC chief said.

  • FRSC advises road users to use pedestrian bridge

    FRSC advises road users to use pedestrian bridge

    The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), has advised the public especially  vulnerable road users to make use of pedestrian bridges or apply other safety measures while crossing the highways.

    Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, Corps Marshal, FRSC, gave the advice in a document made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.

    Oyeyemi said that vulnerable road users contributed to road traffic crashes by not observing road traffic rules.

    He said that some pedestrians walk or run across the road without looking out for vehicles.

    He said that 87 per cent of road traffic crashes were caused by human error or negligence while equipment failure and bad roads account for the rest.

    Oyeyemi urged road users to walk on the road facing oncoming traffic; look left, right and left again before crossing the road and obey traffic lights and signals.

    He urged them to cross the highway where there are zebra crossing or pedestrian bridge where provided.

    He said: “Riders should wear smart bright coloured clothing; avoid flowing and flimsy garments, fancy boots, slippers and thin gloves.

    “They should not carry more than one passenger; and should not squeeze between vehicles.

    “Children under the ages 1 to 12 should not seat in front of vehicles and use child locks were available.

    “It is against the law to transport anybody at the back of pickup vans.’’

    The FRSC boss advised road users not to be nonchalant about the condition of the vehicle they were about to travel in.

    “Avoid distraction of the driver with argumentative discussions; discourage speeding, wrongful over taking, reckless driving and other dangerous practices.

    “Shun over loading of any sort; use seat belt; discourage the use of phone while driving and pay proper attention to the condition of the tyres on the vehicles you board.

    “In the event that the driver is stubborn use the feedback mechanism of the company if any, or report him to the nearest law enforcement agents; these are preventive measures against road traffic crashes.’’

  • NURTW wants FG to revive moribund tyre companies

    NURTW wants FG to revive moribund tyre companies

    Alhaji lssa Ore, the chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Kwara branch, on Monday appealed to the Federal Government to revive the moribund tyre manufacturing companies in the country.

    Ore told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin that this would curb the importers of tyres from importing fairly-used ones.

    He also said that it would reduce the rate of motor accidents on the country’s highways.

    The NURTW chairman urged the Federal Government to enter into negotiations with Dunlop, Michelin and other tyre manufactures with a view to returning to the country and resume productions.

    He condemned the imported tyres popularly called ‘tokunboh’ tyres now widely being used in the country by motorists.

    He described them as being substandard and not suitable for the nation’s weather conditions and roads.

    “The Federal Government must revive the moribund tyre manufacturing industries in the country to save the lives of Nigerians”, Ore said.

    The NURTW chairman also appealed to the Federal Government to assist the various indigenous tyre producers in the country financially.

    He said that would make them to be able to produce tyres that would be suitable for the nation’s road and reduce the rate of vehicular accidents usually recorded on annual basis.

    According to him, over 70 per cent of accidents involving vehicles that occurred in various parts of the country were attributed to tyre burst from speeding.

    The NURTW chairman advised motorists, especially, commercial vehicle operators to desist from using fairly- used tyres.

    He also advised them to always abide by traffic rules and regulations so as to reduce cases of road accidents in the country.

    NAN reports that the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps, (FRSC), Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, at a wet- season mega rally held in llorin recently said that statistics showed that the country was recording 5,000 road accidents annually.

    He attributed the high rate to the use of substandard tyres, especially, by commercial vehicle operators.

  • FRSC to realign operations with presidential executive orders

    FRSC to realign operations with presidential executive orders

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) is to reorganise its operations for transparency and efficiency in line with the recently signed Presidential Executive Orders.

    Its Corps Marshal, Mr. Boboye Oyeyemi, disclosed this at a strategic session with Zonal Commanding Officers of the FRSC at its headquarters in Abuja on Friday.

    The three Executive Orders, signed by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, on May 18, are aimed at easing government’s business and operations to enhance the country’s economic activities.

    Oyeyemi said the FRSC had a critical role to play in the implementation of the Orders given its status as the country’s lead agency in road traffic administration and safety management.

    He said; “The Executive Orders have made it imperative that FRSC aligns its operations for effective and efficient service delivery through re-orientation of all segments of the corps.

    “Accordingly, this session will be devoted to identification of areas requiring alignment to the Executive Orders in the nation’s continuous search for excellence in all fields of endeavours.

    “We must strive to ensure that our processes and procedures are continually built in order to maintain a deserved leadership role in road safety in Africa.”

    NAN

  • FRSC redeploys 71 senior officers in massive shakeup

    FRSC redeploys 71 senior officers in massive shakeup

    The Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, has approved the redeployment of 71 senior officers nationwide for enhanced performance.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the redeployment, aimed at repositioning the commission, affected three zonal commanding officers alongside several sector commanders.

    Mr Ayodele Kumapayi, the former Sector Commander in Rivers, who was recalled recently for forcibly cutting the hair of some female personnel, is now the Head of Corps Safety and Transport Office at the national headquarters, Abuja.

    He was replaced by Corps Commander Imoh Etuk, who was formally the Corps Public Education Officer at the headquarters.

    In the redeployment released by FRSC Secretary, Susan Ajenge, Kingsley Agomo, the former Zonal Commanding Officer of Zone 7, Abuja, was moved to Zone 6, Port Harcourt.

    Jonas Agwu, who was in charge of Zone 6, Port Harcourt, was redeployed to Zone 4, Jos.

    The erstwhile Commanding Officer of Zone 4 Jos, Oludare Fadogba, takes over the affairs of Zone 7, Abuja.

    A.A. Nwaka, who recently completed a course at the National Defence College, Abuja, was deployed to the National Headquarters, Abuja, to take over as the Assistant Corps Marshal in charge of Admin section.

    Corps Commander Bisi Kazeem, who was the Head of Media Relations and Strategy at the headquarters, takes over from Etuk as the new Corps Public Education Officer.

    Also affected is the former Kaduna State Sector Commander, Mr Francis Udoma, who is now the Head of Transport Section at the Technical Service Department at the national headquarters.

    Former Sector Commander, Gombe, David Mendie, was moved to Benue as Sector Commander, while Chidi Nkwonta, the erstwhile Sector Commander, Benue, takes charge in Cross River in the same capacity.

    Similarly, Ikechukwu Igwe was moved from Cross River as Sector Commander to Bayelsa in the same capacity.

    James Mbatse was moved from Niger State as Sector Commander to assume the same position in Yobe.

    Ibrahim Abubakar and Umar Ibrahim were moved from Imo and Osun as Sector Commanders to assume the same positions in Gombe and Kaduna states respectively, among others.

    In a statement circulated on Sunday, Sani Abdullahi, Media Assistant to the Corps Marshal, said the redeployment takes immediate effect.

    According to Abdullahi, handing and taking over process is expected to be completed latest by June 10.

    The statement said Oyeyemi enjoined all senior officers of the FRSC to brace up to the challenges of delivering safety to Nigerians in line with the Corps’ 2017 strategic goals.

  • Over 7.6m cars puts undue pressure on Nigerian roads – Corps Marshal

    The Corps Marshal of Federal Road Safety Corps [FRSC], Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, on Monday said the number of cars in the country was putting undue pressure on the nation’s road network, thereby causing accidents.
    Oyeyemi said Nigeria has over 7.6 million cars plying through its 204, 000 kilometer road network.
    “This statistics show that there is high pressure on the road network which makes the prevalence of road accidents high,” he said in a message to an event organised to mark the Global Road Safety Week in Kaduna.
    He said that the FRSC had come up with various strategies including installation of speed limiter device in commercial vehicles to reduce road traffic deaths.
    The Corps Marshal, represented by Ebenezer Ashaniya, Deputy Corps Commander Policy, Research and Statistics, said efforts were on to increase awareness on the dangers of speed among road users in the country.
    Oyeyemi said direct control of speed was necessary and a better approach in saving lives by motorists.
    He assured that the FRSC would continue to discharge its mandate until road users accord due value to human lives.
    Mohammed Garba, an official of Kaduna State Traffic Agency, pledged that the outfit would work with the FRSC to ensure safer roads across the state.
    “As a law enforcement agency in the state we will do our best to compliment your efforts in sanitizing our roads,” he added.

     

  • Police arrest three over mob attack on FRSC

    Police arrest three over mob attack on FRSC

    Three persons have been arrested in connection with a recent mob attack on a patrol team of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) at Igbo-Ukwu, Anambra, the agency said.

    In a statement issued in Abuja, Spokesman’s of the FRSC, Mr Bisi Kazeem, said the suspects were arrested by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Anambra State Police Command.

    According to him, the three are suspected to be part of the mob that attacked the FRSC personnel after an offending commercial motorcyclist fell while trying to evade arrest by the team.

    Earlier, there was speculation on the Internet that the FRSC patrol team was mobbed for allegedly demanding bribe at Ichida also in Anambra.

    But Kazeem issued a statement, dismissing the rumour as not correct.

    “The true position is that an offending Okada man who sighted our personnel on normal patrol, suddenly turned to escape arrest and fell in the process.

    “His fall attracted sympathy from miscreants and other Okada men who then seized the opportunity to mob the personnel,” he said.

    Kazeem said efforts were being made to apprehend “the other miscreants and ‘Okada’ riders for prosecution”.

    Reacting to the arrests, Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, commended the Inspector-General of Police and the Police Command in Anambra for their prompt action.

    Oyeyemi enjoined them to fish out others at large for prosecution so as to serve as deterrent to potential offenders.

    “The Corps Marshal said the FRSC would continue to cooperate with other sister agencies in the discharge of its statutory
    duties.

    “He added that the Corps would no longer tolerate the harassment, assault and victimisation of its personnel on flimsy excuses and trivial issues,” Kazeem said.

     

  • Speed limiting device: FRSC records 30% compliance nationwide

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has recorded 30-per cent compliance by commercial vehicles in the first 40 days of the full enforcement of its speed limiter policy nationwide.

    This is contained in the executive summary of the Speed Limiting Device (SLD) implementation report made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday.

    The report covers the 40-day period between Feb. 1, when the FRSC began full enforcement of the installation of SLD by commercial vehicles, and March 12.

    According to the report, out of 71,501 commercial vehicles checked within the period, 22,118 or 30 per cent were found to have installed the device.

    The report shows that 22,785 or 31 per cent of the vehicles were booked for not installing the device, while 26,602 representing 37 per cent were cautioned.

    It said a total of 177 commercial vehicle drivers appeared in mobile courts, and 7,630 vehicles impounded within the period under review.

    At the state level, 67 per cent compliance rate was recorded in Edo where 1,738 vehicles installed the device out of 2,587 that were checked.

    In the FCT, a total of 7,385 vehicles were checked out of which 3,646 were found with the device, representing a 49-per-cent success rate.

    According to the statistics, only 1,745 vehicles or 27 per cent complied with the policy in Lagos where a total of 6,296 were checked during the period under review.

    The FRSC began implementation of the speed limiter policy on Feb. 1 to address the issue of speed, blamed for 50 per cent of road accidents in the country.

    The Corps believes that controlling vehicle speed would cut road accidents by 50 per cent, in addition to reducing the impact of crashes when they occur.

    Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Mr. Boboye Oyeyemi, said the decision to begin with commercial vehicles was informed by the fact that majority of Nigerians depend on them for transportation.

    Oyeyemi said 60 per cent of vehicles involved in accidents nationwide were commercial, resulting in the highest casualty figures compared to other categories of vehicles.

    Spokesman of the agency, Mr. Bisi Kazeem, said that the 30 per cent success rate recorded just within 40 days was an indication that the policy was on course.

    Kazeem told NAN in Abuja that the agency was determined not only to sustain the policy, but also to extend it to all categories of vehicles in due course.

    He solicited the continued cooperation of Nigerians with the Corps to prevent avoidable deaths through accidents on the nation’s roads.

     

  • We are not recruiting – FRSC

    We are not recruiting – FRSC

    The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Boboye Oyeyemi has confirmed that FRSC is neither recruiting nor doing any form of replacement as is being insinuated by some fraudsters outside, warning staff to desist from such rumour or face the wrath of the law in accordance with the FRSC Disciplinary Codes.

    He stated this Monday while addressing staff of the National Headquarters at the Corps Marshal’s weekly Parade.

    According to Bisi Kazeem Head Media Relations and Strategy in a statement issued in Abuja,  Oyeyemi said the rumour of recruitment being spread by some fraudulent persons with intent to dupe unsuspecting members of the public must be ignored, saying any staff who is caught engaging in such act of rumour mongering will have himself to blame.

    He stressed that there was no way FRSC could engage in recruitment exercise without following due process which includes wide publicity to give every Nigerian opportunity to participate in it.

    “My attention was drawn to the rumour, and I want to put it directly to you, that FRSC is neither recruiting nor doing any form of replacement as people are insinuating outside,” he stated.

    The Corps Marshal expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for its logistics provisions for the FRSC, noting that the 283 operational vehicles which the President commissioned for the Corps last month coupled with the ongoing construction of office accommodation in 5 states of the Federation demonstrates President Buhari’s passion for road safety.

    He added that the empowerment has enabled the FRSC to carry out its responsibilities of making the roads safe and called on staff to rededicate themselves in order to reciprocate the gestures.

  • “Ocholi’s driver had no license”

    “Ocholi’s driver had no license”

    The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Boboye Oyeyemi, on Wednesday disclosed that the late Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Barrister James Ocholi died as a result of over speeding.

    The Corps Marshal said this while presenting the accident’s Road Traffic Crash Investigation Interim Report to the Federal Executive Council, FEC, on Wednesday at the meeting of the body at the presidential villa in Abuja.

    Oyeyemi stated that the Corps could not find the details of Ocholi’s driver on its database and thus declared that the driver had no license.

    Members of the Federal executive Council (FEC) led by President Muhammadu Buhari are expected to visit the family of the late minister after the meeting.

    President Buhari and some selected ministers paid glowing tributes to their fallen colleagues, just as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir David Lawal said Ocholi’s burial may hold between 16th and 18th of March, 2016.