The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC)

  • 30 killed in Ibadan autocrash – FRSC

    30 killed in Ibadan autocrash – FRSC

    The Federal Road Safety Corps ( FRSC ) confirmed an auto accident on the Lagos-Ibadan highway has claimed 30 lives on Thursday night.

    Spokesman of the FRSC, Mr Bisi Kazeem, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Friday.

    Kazeem said the accident occurred at about 8 p.m. at Km 95 around the Elebolo Quary Area on the Ibadan axis of the road.

    According to him, 10 other persons were injured in the crash involving 40 persons and two Mazda buses.

    “The crash occurred at a construction site, and it resulted from route and speed violations.

    “This has further underscored the Corps Marshal, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi’s advice to motorists to avoid night journeys, be careful around construction sites and drive within approved speed limits,” he said.

    Kazeem said rescue operations by FRSC officials, who arrived at the scene minutes after the incident, ended at 2:42 a.m. on Friday.

    He disclosed that the corpses were deposited at Adeoyo Yemetu Hospital mortuary, Ibadan.

    The injured were taken to the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, and Adeoyo Yemetu Hospital, he added.

  • Nigerian Army investigates alleged attack in Abia

    Nigerian Army investigates alleged attack in Abia

    The Nigerian Army says it has commenced investigations into the alleged breach of human rights in the ongoing Operation Python Dance in the South-East.

    Col. Sagir Musa, the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations in the 82 Division, made the disclosure in Enugu on Thursday while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    NAN reports that videos of alleged tortures of some youth in some parts of Abia have gone viral in the social media.

    According to Musa, in line with the rules of engagement and code of conduct guiding internal security operations, those found wanting, if any, would be dealt with.

    “The Nigerian Army does not encourage or condone indiscipline and unprofessional conduct in any form,’’ he said.

    The army spokesman maintained that its troops did not kill anybody in Aba as insinuated in the social media.

    He explained that the Python Dance 11 was conducted every Ember month to check obvious criminal activities including kidnapping, armed robbery and the recent secession agitations in the zone.

    “Python Dance 1 was conducted in September 2016 in the zone and it was a huge success because rate of crime dropped drastically and people celebrated their yuletide peacefully.

    “Even road accident rates also dropped from reports by the Federal Road Safety Corps ( FRSC ),’’ he said.

    Musa regretted that the second exercise received high criticisms.

    He appealed to the general public to use the dedicated mobile phone numbers issued for credible and reasonable complaints about the conduct of the troops and the entire operations.

    In another development, the army spokesperson received the South-East Human Rights Situation Room led by Prof. Joy Ezeilo on the violence in the South-East.

    Ezeilo urged the military to adopt international human rights law and global best practices in carrying out the exercise in the zone.

    She solicited the partnership and cooperation of the Nigerian Army in sensitising the public to the operation, adding that the group had established a hotline, 09060002128 to receive reports of any infractions.

    The law professor appealed to residents of the zone to be law abiding and shun violence in any situation.

  • Auto crash claims 19 lives in Kano

    Auto crash claims 19 lives in Kano

    The Federal Road Safety Corps ( FRSC ) says 19 persons have died in a ghastly motor accident along Kano – Katsina Road.

    The Public Relations Officer of the FRSC Sector Command in the state, Mr Kabir Ibrahim-Daura, disclosed this in Kano on Saturday.

    Kabir-Daura said that the incident occurred near Lambun Garban Bichi, on the outskirts of Bichi town, around 8:30 a.m. on Friday.

    According to him, the incident happened when a Peugeot J5 bus and a Toyota C20 bus had a head-on collision when one of the drivers of the vehicles wanted to overtake the other vehicle at a sharp bend corner.

    He said the two vehicles bust into flames as a result of which 18 out of the 34 passengers in the vehicles were burnt to ashes.

    “There were 34 passengers on board the two vehicles, so 18 were burnt to ashes, while the other one died later in the hospital, “he said.

    Kabir-Daura said the remaining 15 persons who sustained various injuries were taken to Bichi General Hospital by the Corps’ personnel for treatment.

    He attributed the accident to wrong overtaking and speeding, and urged drivers to always obey traffic rules and regulations to avoid road accident on the Highways.

  • FRSC calls for infrastructure adjustment in Abuja

    FRSC calls for infrastructure adjustment in Abuja

    The Federal Road Safety Corps ( FRSC ) says some infrastructural adjustments are needed in Abuja to support the proposed introduction of bicycle transport in the nation’s capital city.

    The Corps’ Public Education Officer, Mr Bisi Kazeem, stated this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja on Sunday.

    Kazeem said the plan also required amendment of the National Road Safety Regulations to include provisions for the safety of cyclists.

    He spoke against the backdrop of the recent announcement of the proposed bicycle policy by the National Council on Transportation ( NCT ) after its 15th meeting in Sokoto.

    “As a pilot scheme, if Abuja is taken, there is need for restructuring of some intersections before we can kick start it successfully.

    “FRSC studied all the road networks in Abuja, and we have identified the gaps and recommended measures to address the.

    “During the study, which we carried out with officials of the FCTA (Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), we found out that all roads and streets have provisions for bicycle lanes in the design, but at the point of construction the lanes were either ignored, merged with pedestrian walkways, making the walkways too wide, or were turned into green areas.

    “I think it is only on Yakubu Gowon Way in Asokoro that the lane is being implemented. So, a key concern is the need for re-engineering of intersections and traffic lights to provide for cyclists.’’

    The Minister of Transport, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, who made the announcement after the NCT meeting, had said Abuja was chosen as pilot because it already had cycling facilities.

    Amaechi stated that introduction of bicycle transport would reduce road traffic congestion and environmental pollution as well as improve the health of riders among other benefits.

    Speaking in the same vain, Kazeem said that the FRSC would work with other stakeholder for its successful implementation of the policy.

    “In fact, FRSC commenced the promotion of urban cycling since 2011; it is not new to us. Since then we have built collaborations and established and funded the National Stakeholders Committee for four years running comprising all government agencies relating to transport, private sector and unions for four years running.

    “The committee developed the first draft National Cycling Policy, which could not be approved by the previous administration owing to bureaucracy.

    “We commenced the national bicycle week and hosted three editions. We have understudied different countries’ cycling systems for domestication, and we have studied all the road networks in Abuja which is the pilot.

    “So, it is a welcome development and the policy announcement actually came as a result of a presentation that the FRSC made at that council of transport summit.

    “For us, the announcement by the ministry confirmed our several years of advocacy and drive to make cycling a mode of transport.

    “We are ready and we are going to work with other stakeholders to see to the success of this policy.’’

    Kazeem stated that cycling was already part of the FRSC public education programmes.

    NAN recalls that eight officers of the Corps recently underwent training in the Netherlands, the world leader in cycling, in traffic safety for non-motorised transport with cycling as focus.

    Some experts also came from Netherlands to train about 24 other FRSC officers, and officials of the Federal Ministries of Power, Works and Housing; Transport, and the FCT Administration.

    The FRSC spokesman said the Corps was working to duplicate the training across its formations nationwide.

  • FRSC tests 28 motorists psychologically

    FRSC tests 28 motorists psychologically

    The FCT Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps ( FRSC ) says it has arrested 149 motorists for various traffic offences in the territory during the recent Sallah festivities.

    The Sector Commander of the FRSC, Mr Wobin Gora, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Friday.

    Gora was speaking on the outcome of the FRSC’s special Sallah patrol in the territory held between Aug. 31 and Sept. 6.

    He said that 28 of the offenders were arrested for “critical offences” and were referred to relevant public health facilities for psychological tests.

    “The critical offences are use of phone while driving; route violation; traffic light violation; dangerous driving and overloading.

    “They are so designated because they are the most rampant life-threatening traffic law violations in the country.

    “Fourteen of the offenders referred for the tests returned with negative results, while the other 14 have yet to come with their results.

    “But their vehicles are in our custody, and will remain with us until we see the results of their tests,” he said.

    Gora identified speed violation, use of phone while driving and tyre violation as the most prevalent offences in the territory during the period.

    The sector commander also said that the command of the FRSC recorded 16 road traffic accidents involving 23 vehicles and 78 people within the period.

    Three persons lost their lives in two fatal cases, Gora said, adding that 56 others were injured in 12 serious and two minor cases.

    He further stated that 13 of the vehicles involved in the accidents were private, and the remaining 10 commercial.

    He said that the two fatal cases which involved commercial vehicles occurred at Abaji on the Abuja-Lokoja highway.

    Gora noted that there was a general improvement in the attitude of motorists in the FCT, but said the command had intensified its public enlightening campaign.

  • Bus driver dies in Lagos-Ibadan Expressway auto crash

    Bus driver dies in Lagos-Ibadan Expressway auto crash

    One person died on Saturday while others were injured in an accident involving a tanker and a Mazda commercial bus on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, an official said.

    Mr Babatunde Akinbiyi, the spokesman for the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE),  confirmed the fatality to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abeokuta.

    Akinbiyi said the accident was caused by over speeding on the part of the tanker driver, who was coming from Lagos.

    According to him, the tanker hit the road barrier erected by the contractors working on the expressway and rammed into the Lagos-bound bus at 9. 25 a.m.

    “The driver of the bus lost his life in the accident which involved a tanker laden with ethanol marked AKD 650 XQ and the bus with registration no. BWR 515 XA.

    “The tanker which was coming from Lagos hit the barrier and rammed into the bus going to Lagos. Only the driver of the bus has died for now, ” he said.

    Akinbiyi said the body of the driver had been deposited at the morgue of the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu.

    He said the accident had caused slow movement of vehicles on both sides of the expressway currently undergoing reconstruction.

    “Officials of TRACE and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) are on ground to monitor the situation.”

  • 19 die in auto crash in Edo, says FRSC

    19 die in auto crash in Edo, says FRSC

    At least, 19 people including five children died in an accident at Ogoneki in Edo, off Asaba-Benin Expressway on Thursday, the Federal Road Safety Corps ( FRSC ) has said.

    Mr Samuel Odukoya, the State Sector Commander, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin City that the accident which involved a trailer and a passenger bus occurred at 4.30 p.m. on Thursday.

    He said 24 persons were trapped in the accident involving a trailer with registration no. DRZ 374 XA and a Toyota bus marked ABD 206 XA.

    Odukoya said 16 people died on Thursday while three other persons died in a hospital on Friday.

    According to him, five others sustained various degrees of injury.

    “The trip was from Benin to Auchi and the cause of the accident was attributed to dangerous overtaking.

    “Three females, 11 males, a female child and four male children were killed in the accident, while five men were injured and have been taken to the hospital,” the commander said.

  • Sallah: FRSC deploys 33,000 personnel, 859 vehicles for special patrol

    Sallah: FRSC deploys 33,000 personnel, 859 vehicles for special patrol

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says it is deploying 33,000 personnel and 859 vehicles for a nationwide special patrol during the Sallah to ensure free flow of traffic and check accidents.

    Mr Bisi Kazeem, the Corps Public Education Officer of the FRSC made this known in a statement on Tuesday.

    Kazeem also said that said that 106 ambulances, 267 motorcycles and 22 tow trucks would be deployed for the exercise due to begin on Thursday and end on Sept. 6.

    According to the FRSC spokesman, the exercise will focus on traffic control, excessive speeding, dangerous driving/overtaking, clearance of obstruction, seatbelt use violation and use of phone while driving.

    He said that others were lane indiscipline and route violation which had been identified as recurring factors for road traffic accidents.

    Kazeem advised motorists to adhere strictly to traffic rules and regulations as over 200 Mobile Courts had been set up to prosecute traffic offenders during the period.

    He urged the general public, in the event of emergency, to notify the corps through its emergency line: 0700-call-FRSC (070022553772 or toll free number, 122, for prompt response.

    Kazeem quoted the Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Mr Boboye Oyeyemi as wishing Nigerians, especially Muslims happy celebration and assuring them that personnel of the corps would be on ground to serve them.

  • FRSC commences Sallah special patrol in Ogun

    FRSC commences Sallah special patrol in Ogun

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ogun is to commence a special patrol between Aug. 30 to Sept. 6 to enhance free flow of traffic during the Sallah festivities.

    The Sector Commander of FRSC in the state, Mr Clement Oladele, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday that the exercise would ensure safety of lives and reduce gridlocks across the state.

    NAN reports that the Muslim faithful would be celebrating the Eid-kabir on Sept. 1 and Sept. 2 across the country.

    According to Oladele, the FRSC would mobilise its personnel in ensuring that people travelling to different destinations across the state do not encounter hindrances.

    “We are going to join hands together to ensure that minimum obstructions were experienced across all principal corridors of the state.

    “The personnel would be deployed to areas like Lagos/Ibadan Expressway, Abeokuta, Sagamu, Ijebu-Ode, Odegbolu, Ogunmakin, Itori and Ota to curb excesses of drivers and reduce crashes to its barest level,” he said.

    Oladele, therefore, implored motorists to cooperate with the FRSC officials and adhere strictly to all the traffic regulations.

  • FRSC wants FG to provide loan facilities for truck owners to boost operations

    FRSC wants FG to provide loan facilities for truck owners to boost operations

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ogun, has appealed to the Federal Government to provide loan facilities for truck owners through Bank of Industry to boost their operations.

    Mr Clement Oladele, the Sector Commander of FRSC, made the plea on Thursday at the FRSC 2017 Annual Public Enlightenment Rally in Ota.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the rally was organised by the Sango-Ota Unit Command, in conjunction with the Shell Nigeria Gas with the theme: “Speed Down: Save Lives”.

    According to Oladele, provision of the loan facilities for fleet operators will reduce the frequent breakdown of their old vehicles on the roads.

    “This gesture will ensure the use of new and road worthy vehicles and also promote safety on our highways,” he said.

    Oladele said that the frequent breakdown of their rickety vehicles was majorly responsible for gridlocks on the highways and causing fatigue for FRSC officials.

    The FRSC official described the rally as apt and timely as it coincides with the Eid-Kabir festival, and moreso that the Ember Months were approaching.

    He said that this was part of the FRSC strategies to enlighten the public on safety issues to reduce auto crashes in the country.

    Oladele, however, warned undisciplined drivers to desist from driving against traffic to save lives and property on the highways.

    “Any driver caught driving against traffic will not only be booked, but prosecuted,” he said.

    The sector commander said that FRSC had commenced special operation along Lagos/Ibadan Expressway to check excesses of some drivers driving against traffic.

    Also, Mr Adekunle Oguntoyinbo, the Sango-Ota Unit Commander of FRSC, advised motorists to desist from reckless driving that could put the lives of other road users in danger.

    “Motorists should desist from buying used tyres, it is one of the major causes of road crashes in the country,” Oguntoyinbo said.

    He also advised drivers to stop using cell phones while driving now that the ember months are approaching.