The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC)

  • Three die, four injured in early morning accident on Kara bridge 

    Three die, four injured in early morning accident on Kara bridge 

    Early Thursday morning accident involving multiple vehicles on Kara bridge stretch of the Lagos – Ibadan expressway has left three persons dead and four others injured.

    The accident which occurred around 6:30am involved eleven vehicles, including four trucks, causing not a small obstruction on the highway and huge traffic gridlock.

    Operatives of the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and soldiers were sighted working to clear the obstruction, direct traffic and assist victims.

    The Nation gathered that one of the vehicles involved in the accident lost control of the wheel and crashed into another and in the ensuing milieu, others smashed into one another in quick succession.

    The Public Relations Officer of the TRACE, Babatunde Akinbiyi, listed DAF truck marked  APP 769XR, a Mazda bus  with registration number AKD 520 XN, another Mazda bus registered as BDG 327 AA and a nondescript DAF truck as vehicles involved in the early morning accident.

    Others are Cabster marked XS216 KSF, MAN Diesel with registration number AGL 545 XF, Ford marked KTU 320 XN, LEXUS Jeep registered as FKJ475BR, SINO Truck with registration number  KRD 122 XD,  another SINO Truck marked KRD 123 XD and one other.

    Akinbiyi also stated that three persons died while four others were injured in the accident.

     

  • FRSC takes safety campaigns to primary schools in Plateau

    FRSC takes safety campaigns to primary schools in Plateau

    The Jos Zonal Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps ( FRSC ) has embarked on a child Safety campaign in primary schools in Plateau.

    Flagging-off the campaign at the St. Luke Primary School on Monday in Jos, the Zonal Commanding Officer, Mr Jonas Agwu, said the initiative was “timely”.

    According to Agwu, the rationale behind the campaign was to stem the spate at which underaged children die from road accidents.

    “If you take a copious check, you will see that children below the ages of twelve are not being transported properly by motorists.

    “What I have noticed in my five months stay on the Plateau is that drivers and car owners are careless about the safety of the children while plying roads; they have very poor attitude to the safety of the child.

    “So, it is based on this that we decided to take the safety campaign to the children directly, so they will know their rights on one hand, and can correct adults when they do the wrong thing on the other hand.

    “If we say and believe that the kids are the leaders of tomorrow, then we have to do the right thing in safeguarding their future,” he said.

    The Zonal Commanding Officer appealed to motorists to acquire baby seats for their cars as well as ensure its usage when necessary, for safety of children.

    Agwu also warned against allowing children to use the front passenger’s seat, as such acts could be risky to the safety of the children.

    The campaign was organised in conjunction with Rotary Club of Jos, Sherehills and the Nija Pikin Iniative Development.

    NAN

  • Trucks used in Nigeria are over 30 years old – FRSC Corp Marshal

    Trucks used in Nigeria are over 30 years old – FRSC Corp Marshal

    The Federal Road Safety Corps ( FRSC ) yesterday decried the poor state of the trucks on the highways across the country.

    The FRSC disclosed that some of the trucks that travel on the highways are over 30 years.

    This, the Corp said has contributed to their frequent breakdowns and obstruction on the highway.

    To however address the poor state of the fleet, the FRSC and Nigeria Shippers Council signed a MoU; ‘Road Transport Safety Standardisation Scheme.

    The MoU which is expected to set standard for the operation of fleet across the country would also assist in data collection of truck drivers and owners.

    This was disclosed in Abuja when the MoU was signed by both agencies.

    Speaking on the importance of the scheme, the FRSC Corp Marshal, Boboye Oyeyemi said: “We would partner with them to ensure that the parks they want to construct are appropriately located.

    “The Scheme provides for all the truck owners to register with the corps and it will make us have a joint database and with that, we should be able to tell the country how many trucks we have for planning and economic purposes.”

    On the poor state of the trucks, Oyeyemi said: “We should also be able to tell the state of these vehicles in order to encourage government to work on re-fleeting because most of these trucks on the highways are over 30 years and that is why we experience frequent breakdowns, especially in areas where the roads are bad.

    “We need to tell government the actual number of trucks available and their lifespan in order for government to assist in the re-fleeting, maybe through the Bank of Industry ( BOI ) or through any other means.

    “The truck owners are really in dare need of a life-saving intervention in terms of re-fleeting. We are battling with old trucks and there is an urgent need to really address this”.

    The Corp Marshal also noted that the implementation of the scheme which is immediate would carry stakeholders in the transport sector along.

    “The implication is that all truck owners must now comply with the Road Transport Safety Standardisation Scheme. We need to get it right to stop all these indiscriminate parking, accidents, on the highway and once the drivers know that they are fully registered and can be punished, they will sit up.”

    Also seapking, the Executive Secretary of NSC, Hassan Bello said the scheme when implemented would boost the economy of the  country and help in the decongestion of roads.

    He also said the initiative would ensure quick delivery and distribution of goods adding that the first set of parks would be located in Enugu and Kogi States.

    He said: “We are concerned just like the FRSC about free movement of goods, the delivery of goods, good transport infrastructure.

    “As you know, 90 percent of the goods that come into Nigeria are distributed by road, so it is important we have not only the good road as an infrastructure but we should have supporting facilities like the Truck Transit Parks to ensure smooth delivery.

    On the essence of the MoU signed, Bello said: “it would help to standardize the vehicles because if you look at the fleet,  they are rickety and old and we need to start refleeting of these trucks.

    “Refleeting would help us look at the economic indices. We have been working with Automobile Council to see how it could be done and the truckers themselves”.

  • FRSC urges Ogun to effect palliative measures on sango-ota roads

    FRSC urges Ogun to effect palliative measures on sango-ota roads

    The Federal Road Safety Corps ( FRSC ) has appealed to Ogun Government to repair roads in Sango-Ota and its environs, to ease free-flow of traffic in the area.

    Mr Adekunle Oguntoyinbo, Sango-Ota Unit Commander of FRSC, in an interview in Ota on Friday that such palliative measures would reduce the suffering of those plying the road.

    According to him, the deplorable state of roads in Sango-Ota and its environs has been the major challenge confronting the personnel of the unit and public in the area.

    “There is an urgent need for the State Government to come to the aid of the people by providing measures that will reduce their hardship,’’ he said.

    The unit commander explained those road networks in Sango-Ota and its environs were bad, adding that they had become death traps for the people.

    He listed some of the bad roads to include: Ota to Agbara, Owode to Ilaro, Owode to Ifo and Ifo to papa area.

    Oguntoyinbo also said that over laden vehicles (longer, heavier vehicles) easily over turn due to the nature of the roads.

    “This development has also affected business activities and contributed to gridlock the areas are experiencing,’’ the unit commander said.

    He also implored companies in Sango-Ota and its environs not to wait for the government before contributing to development where they made their revenues.

    “Do the little you can to enable your businesses move on smoothly in the areas.’’

    NAN

  • FRSC commences operation “Show your licence’’ in Lagos

    FRSC commences operation “Show your licence’’ in Lagos

    The Lagos State Sector Command, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says it has commenced operation “Show Your Licence’’ across the state to arrest drivers without valid licence and curb road crashes.

    Mr Hyginus Omeje, the State Sector commander, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Thursday.

    “The state command, this week, inaugurated operation ‘Show your License’ campaign across the state to arrest motorists who had no valid driving license.

    “We are doing this as part of our ember month programmes to sensitise drivers on the need to possess valid licences before driving,’’ he said.

    Omeje said that the state command recorded 57 road crashes in the third quarter of 2017, adding that the development showed a decrease of 46.2 per cent, compared to the same period in 2016.

    Read Also: FRSC arrests 350 unlicenced drivers in Plateau

    According to him, there are 55, 802 unclaimed licences in the sector command due to the failure of many drivers to claim such documents.

    Omeje noted that enforcement of speed limiters had brought tremendous reduction in road accident across the state.

    The sector commander, who said all commercial fleet operators must to install the speed limit device in their vehicles, noted that compliance level had reached 33.1 per cent in the state.

    Omeje said that personnel of the command, on patrol, stopped 6, 007 vehicles in the last three months, adding that out of the number, 1, 993 vehicles had had the device installed.

    According to him, 4,014 vehicles without the device and others motorists are booked.

    According to him, another 192 motorists were cautioned while seven motorists were charged to court for allegedly failing to install speed limiter.

    Omeje also said that there was plan to equip all the patrol vehicles in the state with breathalyzers to detect motorists, especially the commercial ones driving under the influence of alcohol.

     

  • FRSC to commence aggressive sanction of drivers without license

    FRSC to commence aggressive sanction of drivers without license

    With the observed disobedience to the regulation on the use of driver’s licence by some drivers in the country, particularly in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) is organising a special operation targeted at detecting the violators and sanctioning them.

    This was disclosed by the Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi while receiving the Secretary of Transportation for the FCT, Mr Kayode Opeifa during his courtesy visit to the FRSC National Headquarters Wednesday.
    According to Bisi Kazeem, Corps Public Education Officer, FRSC, the Corps Marshal said the practice of driving vehicle without proper driver’s licence as observed in some drivers is illegal and unacceptable to the FRSC, stressing that the perpetrators would be sanctioned accordingly. Oyeyemi further stated that traffic regulation requires that every driver must be properly licensed to operate a motor vehicle, and whoever violates this basic requirement would be apprehended and meted with appropriate sanctions to serve as deterrence to others.

    To this end, the FCT Sector Commander of the FRSC has been directed to commence a special operation that could fish out the perpetrators of the act and sanction them accordingly.

    Mr Opeifa commended the leadership of the FRSC for the success recorded by the nation in the international recognition of the Nigeria Driver’s licence. He noted that due to the security features introduced into the licences, which make their validity to be verifiable online, many states in the USA have given reciprocal recognition to the holders of the licence from Nigeria, adding that the feats achieved by the FRSC over the years were made possible because of its adoption of technology and huge investment in information technology.

    He congratulated all the states of the Federation and the agencies that contributed to achieving the feat. He further observed that the credibility attained by the document and consequent international recognition remain a pride to the nation. In the same vein, Mr Opeifa commended the FRSC for its untiring campaign on roadworthiness of vehicles, not only in Nigeria, but within the West African sub-region where the FRSC presided over the affairs of the West African Road Safety Organization (WARSO) for a number of years during which visible results were recorded in creating road safety awareness among the people.

    The Secretary appealed for sustained collaboration with the FRSC to make the Electronic Vehicle Inspection Scheme pioneered by the FCT Administration a success, saying the contribution made by the FRSC towards the success of the project is well appreciated. He restated the willingness of the FCT Administration to tap into the experiences and synergy offered by the FRSC in the area of traffic management in the country with the aim of making Abuja a model for other states of the federation to emulate.

    He expressed support for the idea of establishing FCT Road Traffic Management Agency, noting that in view of the growing volume and sophistication of motor transportation business in the FCT, there is the need for the establishment of the agency to handle road traffic management in the FCT the Road Traffic Services would continue to play its traditional role of vehicle inspection and issuance of road worthiness certificates to motorists.

    In his remarks, the Corps Marshal commended Mr Kayode Opeifa for his immense contributions to the success of the Nigeria Road Safety Strategy document. He noted that with the approval given to the strategy document by the Federal Government and inauguration of the National Road Safety Advisory Council by the Vice President early this year, which drew membership from Governors and Ministers including some non- governmental organizations, Nigeria is set to tackle its road safety challenges as demonstrated by the political will of the government.

    The Corps Marshal further observed that some of the immediate challenges the Secretary would face in his assignments at the FCT includes the challenges of road traffic management during the peak period characterizing Christmas and New Year. Others he pointed out are prompt response to report of road conditions by the FCT administration, but expressed satisfaction with the promptness with which the FCT Minister has been responding to reports on road conditions in parts of the FCT. This he said has enabled safer road usage and prevented unnecessary gridlock in the FCT.

    Oyeyemi restated the view that the solution to eradicating mechanically deficient and rickety vehicles from plying the FCT roads lies in employing effective use of electronic vehicle inspection scheme. He assured the Secretary of the readiness of the FRSC to collaborate with the FCT Administration in ensuring the success of road safety initiatives in the FCT including maximum utilization of the vehicle inspection scheme for safety of roads in the FCT.

    The Corps Marshal further noted that part of the reforms carried out by the FRSC to protect the integrity of the driver’s licence was the policy of compulsory participation of fresh drivers in the driving school and certification by relevant agents before being captured for biometric data by the FRSC and vowed to sustain the integrity of the driver’s licences including the number plates.

  • Over 55,000 drivers’ licences awaiting collection in Lagos – FRSC

    Over 55,000 drivers’ licences awaiting collection in Lagos – FRSC

    Mr Hyginus Omeje, the Lagos State Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps ( FRSC ), has confirmed that over 55,000 motorists were yet to collect their processed drivers’ licences at various designated centres in Lagos state.

    Omeje made the confirmation in an interview in Lagos on Friday.

    He said about 55,412 processed drivers’ licences were ready and waiting for collection by their owners at the various designated centres in the state.

    According to him, there are no backlogs on the issuance of drivers’ licence again in the Lagos state.

    “We have 55,412 uncollected licences across our stations in Lagos state.

    “It is unfortunate that people do not come to collect their licences.

    “We produced 48,423 out of which 14,323 were fresh; 33,899 were renewed and 199 were re-issued as a result of loss or damage.

    “The only challenge we are facing now is the collection of these licences because we have so many of them in our various centres.

    “Not because they have not been produced but the applicants are not coming to collect them,” he said.

    The sector commander appealed to the motorists, who have applied for drivers’ licence to visit the centres and collect their licenses before the expiration date

    Omeje said that Lagos command had established some dedicated numbers for whoever has any complaint concerning either delay in issuance or collection of the licences.

    According to Omeje, there is a dedicated number to call by any applicant in case there is a delay in issuance of the driver licences (08150654567).

    He said that the numbers was created solely for the purpose of attending to issue related to licence.

    The sector commander noted that drivers could now renew their licences for N10,350 for a five-year duration while three years cost N6,350.

    He explained that applicants with expired original licence could renew his or her licence without necessarily going through recapturing process.

    Omeje, however, appealed to the drivers and applicants to endeavour to submit functioning phone numbers where they could receive an SMS once their licence was ready for collection.

    “We have discovered that by the time we send messages to the applicant, for collection of his or her processed drivers’ licence, it delivers on a non functional number”, he said.

    NAN

  • Accident claims one, injures three in Ogun – FRSC

    Accident claims one, injures three in Ogun – FRSC

    Mr Adekunle Oguntoyinbo, Commander, Sango-Ota Unit of the Federal Road Safety Corps ( FRSC ), Sango-Ota on Tuesday said one person died and three others sustained injuries in an early morning accident in Ogun.

  • Nigeria increasingly lose bread winners to road accidents – FRSC

    Nigeria increasingly lose bread winners to road accidents – FRSC

    Nigerian families are increasingly losing bread winners to road accidents, according to a monthly Road Traffic Crash (RTC) Report’ released by the Federal Road Safety Corps ( FRSC ).

    The July edition of the report made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, said “Seventy per cent of deaths recorded in road traffic crashes in the month of July were male adults, indicating that Nigeria is losing more bread winners to road traffic crashes.’’

    Statistics presented in the report show that the country lost a total of 423 persons to road accidents in July, out of which 295 (or 70 per cent) were male adults.

    This represents an average of nine male adult deaths daily across the country in July.

    The adult male death rate is three times more than that of the 91 female (or 26 per cent) of the total fatality figure in the month under review.

    The remaining 37 deceased victims comprised 15 male children, representing 4 per cent of the total, and 22 female children, representing 5 per cent.

    However, the male adult fatality rate in July is lower than those recorded in May and June, which stood at 76 and 80 per cent respectively.

    In May, the FRSC recorded a total of 502 deaths nationwide, comprising 380 male adults, 87 female adults (17 per cent), 24 male children (5 per cent) and 11 female children or 2 per cent.

    Out of the 301 deaths recorded by the agency in June, male adults accounted for 80 per cent with 241 fatalities, and female adults 48 or 16 per cent.

    The FRSC called for more commitment from all stakeholders to stem the trend.

  • Apapa gridlocks will soon be over — FRSC

    Apapa gridlocks will soon be over — FRSC

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) 6has said that the perennial gridlocks in Apapa area which had spread to other parts of Lagos would soon be a thing of the past.

    Mr Olalekan Morakinyo, FRSC Head of Operation in Lagos, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday that traffic lock down was as a result of influx of tankers to Apapa ports.

    Morakinyo said that the situation was compounded by the ongoing rehabilitation of roads in Apapa area, adding that the gridlocks would soon be over when the roads were completed.

    According to him, many tankers came to Apapa loading bay without schedule, thus causing the gridlock.

    “It begins from lkorodu road and the Western Avenue axis to Ijora.

    “As soon as the road is completed all the corridors within the axis will experience free flow of traffic,” he said.

    He urged motorists to be patient and obey traffic officials to ease traffic within the short period of the road rehabilitation.

    Mr Semiu Oladele, a tanker driver, told NAN that the bad roads within Apapa area posed great challenges to their operations, resulting in the logjam.

    NAN recalls that stakeholders, comprising traffic authorities, transport unions and port users, on Friday gave the trucks and tankers parking indiscriminately 48 hours to vacate Lagos roads.
    Similarly, the Lagos State Government also on Friday asked trailers to keep away from Lagos roads until the resolution of the traffic logjam.