The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC)

  • Accident victims to get free treatment – Health Emergency Initiative

    Accident victims to get free treatment – Health Emergency Initiative

    Accidents victims will now get free treatment in selected hospitals in Lagos within the first 24hours of the accident.

    This was revealed during the signing of MOU by the Health Emergency Initiative and the National Orthopeadic Hospital Igbobi, Lagos Dr O.O Odunnubi last week at the hospital premise.

    According to the executive director of Health Emergency Initiative, Pascal Achunine free treatments of not more than twenty thousand naira would be given to road accidents victims brought to the selected hospitals by the Lagos State Ambulance Services (LASAMBUS) and Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC).

    “The structure is designed in a way that a typical road accident victim that is picked by LASAMBUS or FRSC and brought to these hospitals will be attended to on the certainty that within 24hours health Emergency initiative will pay the bill not exceeding twenty thousand naira.”

    Pascal said that the reason behind this initiative is to reduce the rate of loss of life caused by road accidents.

    “We recently had a collaborative engagement with federal road safety commission to reduce death arising from not providing immediate support to road accidents victims” said Pascal.

    “Our focus is on because typically many people die as a resulting from not being attended to shortly after the accident. Most times the infrastructure and resource in our hospitals may not be enough as a result of budgeting constraint so most times the Federal Road Safety Commission or LASAMBUS might take them to those hospitals will the expectation that they would all be attended to but in reality many of them die arising from not having funds with them.

    “Some may have the funds but because they are in a vulnerable state they may not be able to reach to where they can respond to the need at the moment. So most time they watch some of them and they bleed to death.

    “And when we had this thought and got across to Road Safety Commission the Lagos State chapter they were delighted and got across to his bosses at the headquarters.

    The theme of the campaign is “Non Should die.”

    “It is aimed at stabilizing critically injured accidents victims in about eleven selected hospitals in Lagos including orthopedic hospital, Luth, Lasuth, FMC etc.

    We put the free treatments bill at twenty thousand naira because the number of cases may be over whelming but our take is that not all road accidents victims are indigent people. A wealthy person can be a road accident victim but at that unconscious state he may not speak, so we want to actually reduce the number of fatality arising from road accidents by at least 30 to 50%. It is a 90day campaign projected to start on or before the ember month.

    On his note, the Medical Director Dr Odunnubi welcomed the initiative describing it as a welcome initiative which will save as many lives as possible.

    “It will go a long way in saving so many lives. When you use resources and you don replenish them then when you need to reuse them they won’t be available so you can have patients coming to the hospitals

    “What you have done now will go a long way in helping to ensure equipments and consumables required for resuscitating accidents victims are provided and available when needed.

    “Your twenty thousand is to be able to do what is needed at the point the patients come in that is essential. We pray that will be sustainable although the economic situation is difficult but with determination and zeal and commitment of individuals and companies in Nigeria it is attainable.

    “But ultimately we know that what would be the final solution is health insurance that every Nigerian will be included in the national health insurance scheme but the Health Emergency Initiative is filling the gap now and I am sure when we do this in few years’ time it would be apparent how many lives we have saved” he said.

     

  • Psycho-Emotional test: FRSC to partner public health institutions in Anambra

    Psycho-Emotional test: FRSC to partner public health institutions in Anambra

    The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Anambra Command, says it will partner public health institutions for the implementation of its psychological and emotional test policy.

    Mr Sunday Ajayi, the Sector Commander in the state, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Awka that discussions were under way with the state government for effective synergy, to ensure the success of the policy.

    NAN reports that the new policy came into effect on July 1.

    Ajayi said that the Anambra command, which has six units across the state, would work with the nearest government hospitals in each of the units as examination points.

    He said it was imperative for motorists to prepare their minds before setting out on journeys and avoid being arrested for such behaviours that could endanger their lives and those of others.

    “We don’t have any alternative than to follow suit; the instruction has been passed and the modus operandi released; we have put our strategy in place.

    “We are working with public health institutions in the state so that when arrest is made, we move them to these hospitals for examination.

    “We have taken note of the spread of government hospitals in the state; the arrangement will work with the nearest health facility in each of the units of the command.

    “This effort is good because it will serve as a reminder to road users that they must prepare their minds for any journey.

    “Some of the irrational behaviour motorists exhibit on the roads is a pointer to the fact that they do not think ahead of their journeys.”

    Ajayi said some of the offences that could attract the medical examination included route violation, overloading, speeding and use of phone while driving.

    On the activities of the command in the last six months, the sector commander said there was significant reduction in the number of crashes and fatalities but did not provide statistics.

    He said that public enlightenment, advocacy, stakeholders’ engagement and enforcement were intense during the period, adding that they were substantially responsible for the successes.

    “I want to say that the first two quarters of the year have been very eventful; we have been active and visible on the high ways in line with the 2017 strategic goals of the Corps.

    “So, looking back, you will agree with me that it has been a successful year. To the glory of God we have had a reduction in the type of crashes that result in deaths like we had in the corresponding period last year.

    “It means that our aim of reducing fatality by 25 per cent and crash by 15 per cent is being achieved.

    “Other sister agencies have been collaborative in our enforcement and the media has helped in our awareness campaigns.

    “Also, fleet operators, driving schools, educational institutions and churches helped our operations,” Ajayi said.

  • FRSC records 197 arrests during Eid-el-Fitr festival in Kwara

    FRSC records 197 arrests during Eid-el-Fitr festival in Kwara

    The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in Kwara said on Monday that  it arrested and prosecuted 197 motorists for violating traffic rules  during the last Eid-el-Fitr celebration.

    Mr Sunday Maku, the FRSC  Sector Commander in the state, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin  that the offenders committed a total of 204  traffic offences across the 16  local councils  in the state.

    He said  private and commercial vehicle owners were among the offenders.

    “Some of the offences committed by the motorists were dangerous driving, refusal to use seat belts, over loading, expired vehicle particulars and lack of speed limit device in their  vehicles.

    “The offenders were tried by  special mobile courts established at various locations in the state.

    “The command also  recorded four road crashes during the period, with  one person  dead  while 10 were injured,’’ he said.

    Maku further  said that 89 vehicles  were impounded during the period for not being road worthy among  other offences.

  • Eid el-Fitr: FRSC deploys 2,500 personnel, creates five mobile clinics in Kwara

    Eid el-Fitr: FRSC deploys 2,500 personnel, creates five mobile clinics in Kwara

    The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Kwara command said on Wednesday that it had deployed 2,500 personnel and created five mobile clinic toward a hitch free Eid el-Fitr in Kwara.

    Mr Sunday Maku, the FRSC sector Commander in the state, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in llorin.

    He said that the personnel would be assisted by some officials from the zonal office of commission to ensure sanity on roads, before, during and after the celebration in the 16 Local Government areas of the state.

    Maku added that the five mobile clinics put in place in various parts of the state would take care of emergency situations on the roads.

    He said that the command had set up mobile courts in several parts of the state to try recalcitrant motorists during the period.

    The sector commander, however, warned motorists again driving under the influence of alcohol, over loading, dangerous overtaking and speeding.

    He said that the command would also embark on more sensitisation programme for commercial vehicle operators before the celebration as part of effort to ensure safety on the road.

  • Chidoka dumps PDP for UPP

    Chidoka dumps PDP for UPP

    A chieftain of People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Osita Chidoka, said he would defect to another political party to enable him to realise his governorship aspiration in Anambra.

    Chidoka, a former Minister of Aviation, made this known in a statement in Abuja on Monday and said that he would dump PDP for United Progressive Party (UPP) on Wednesday.

    The statement by the Director-General of his campaign organisation, Mr Bright Nebedum, said Chidoka would declare for the UPP in his hometown, Obosi.

    It explained that Chidoka’s decision to move to another political party was in furtherance of his political aspiration.

    It said that the declaration, the former minister would unveil his plans and vision “towards redirecting the fortunes of Anambra and restoring its lost political and economic glory’’.

    The statement added that Chidoka stood out with his reputation as a forthright administrator and manager of resources and had never failed in any assignment.

    It noted that before becoming minister in 2014, he showed his mettle as the Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC).

    It said that the Chidoka already commanded overwhelming support from various segments of Anambra citizenry.

    “Chidoka already commands overwhelming support from various segments of Anambra citizenry on which we will leverage to run a robust, all-inclusive and broad-based governorship election campaign,” the statement said.

    The governorship in Anambra has been fixed for Nov. 18 by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

     

     

  • 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.

  • Speed Limiting device: FRSC arrests 279 drivers in Bayelsa

    Speed Limiting device: FRSC arrests 279 drivers in Bayelsa

    The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in Bayelsa has arrested 279 motorists for failure to install the speed limiting device (SLD) in their vehicles.

    The State Sector Commander, Mr Wobin Gora, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yenagoa on Monday that the offenders were arrested between February and March.

    Gora explained that out of 893 commercial vehicles checked within the period, 618 drivers had complied, having installed the device in their vehicles.

    “This shows that we have recorded over 70 per cent compliance in Bayelsa.

    “We have been on special operation since the enforcement started and have a mobile court to try erring drivers, to ensure compliance,” Gora said.

    According to him, the commission is concentrating on the East-West road axis, where many commercial vehicles ply.

    The sector commander advised commercial drivers in the state to install the device to prevent disruption of their daily operations.

    “FRSC will not allow any erring commercial drivers to go unpunished.

    “Install the device to control speed, save lives and reduce the rate of fatality on our roads because the major cause of crashes, is speeding,” he said.

    The FRSC began the implementation of the speed limiter device policy on Feb. 1, to stem speeding, identified to be responsible for 50 per cent of road accidents in the country.

  • FRSC to clampdown on drivers using phones while driving

    FRSC to clampdown on drivers using phones while driving

    The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Plateau Command, says it will from Monday clampdown on drivers using phones while driving on the highways.

    The Sector Commander, Corps Commander Pat Emeordi, who stated this on Saturday while briefing newsmen in Jos, said anyone caught would pay a fine of N4, 000.

    Emeordi said that the FRSC Establishment Act 2007, Section 10 (4), prohibits the use of phones while driving for obvious reasons.

    “When people drive and make calls or do text messages, it causes distractions and everyone knows that driving requires a 100 per cent concentration.

    “But the sad thing is that many people, including those who are supposed to know, are defaulting. We are saying that the act should stop.

    “The situation is so bad that the House of Representatives on the 7th of March had to take a cursory look at the situation and everyone is worried,” she said.

    According to her, the use of phones while driving has been identified as one of the major causes of road crashes in recent times.

    “In the couple of days, therefore, beginning from Monday, we are going out massively to clampdown on those who may default,” she said.

    Emeordi also advised road users to always ensure little children were kept at the backseats of cars as a safety measure.

    The commander stated that children kept in the front seat of cars face a higher risk than those who use belt at the backseats.

    According to her, the command will soon embark on sensitisation visits to schools and hospitals to educate parents on the dangers of keeping children in front seat or not strapping them to their seats.

  • Two die in Abuja auto crash

    The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has confirmed the death of two persons in an accident in Abuja on Saturday.

    Mr Sunday Oghenekaro, the FRSC Sector Commander in FCT, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the incident occurred on the Gwarimpa bypass at 7 a.m., involving two Toyota Camry cars.

    According to him, three persons, comprising of two males and a female, were victims of the accident.

    He said that a male and the only female died on the spot, while the other male was critically injured.

    “The cause of the accident was speed, because if you look at the impact, one of the vehicles almost torn into shreds.

    “Our rescue team arrived in the scene about 10 minutes after the accident and was able to evacuate the bodies to Kubwa General Hospital.

    “The injured victim was, however, taken to the Federal Medical Centre in Jabi District,’’ he said.

    An eyewitness had earlier told NAN that one of the dead was a police officer with the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, but the FRSC sector commander could not immediately confirm that.

    Oghenekaro listed the items recovered at the scene to include one AK-47 rifle, mobile phones and an undisclosed amount of cash.

  • Reps urge FG to register motorcycles, tricycles to stem crime

    Reps urge FG to register motorcycles, tricycles to stem crime

    The House of Representatives on Thursday urged the Federal Government to register motorcycles and tricycles across the country to increase revenue and reduce accidents on the roads.

    The house also mandated the Committee on Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) to interface with the Directorate of Road Transport Service and other stakeholders on the matter and report back in four weeks.

    The resolution was sequel to the adoption of a motion on the need to regulate the use of motorcycles and tricycles on public roads, sponsored by Rep. Sunday Karimi (Kogi-PDP).

    Moving the motion, Karimi said that the unregulated use of motorcycles and tricycles had become a security threat in most parts of the country.

    “This is because motorcycles have now been used to perpetuate crime such as rape, armed robbery and terrorism.

    “In addition, the non-registration of motorcycles and its riders cause accidents, which are often fatal as either of the rider or passengers wears a crash helmet.

    “Unfortunately, the agencies of government empowered to superintend these modes of transport have abdicated their duties for long.

    “And, if the law enforcement agencies continue to abdicate their duties, unregistered motorcycles and tricycles will continue to increase and be used for heinous crimes,’’ Karimi said.

    He added that aside licensing motorcycles and tricycles to boost revenue generation for the government, it would also reduce accidents arising from untrained and inexperienced drivers plying the roads.