The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC)

  • FRSC to ease traffic flow on Lagos-Ibadan expressway

    FRSC to ease traffic flow on Lagos-Ibadan expressway

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said it had devised measures to restore traffic flow on the jam-packed Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

    A statement by Mrs Florence Okpe, the FRSC Public Education Officer in Ogun, said on Wednesday that the Corps had inaugurated its ‘Operation Restore Sanity’ along the corridor since Monday.

    It will be recalled that a major disaster was averted last Thursday after a loaded petroleum tanker fell and spilt its contents on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

    The incident, which occurred around 8 am, caused gridlock as security agencies cordoned off the expressway to prevent residents from scooping fuel from the tanker.

    The FRSC education officer said that the operation would enhance the smooth flow of persons and goods along the expressway especially at the Mowe and Ibafo end of the road.

    “The operation, which is aimed at ensuring free movement of vehicles along the expressway, will ensure the arrest and prosecution of persons driving against traffic and other traffic offences.

    “This effort is being complemented with officials of Julius Berger Plc, to effect repairs on identified bad portions of the corridor notorious for causing gridlocks,” she added.

    Okpe, therefore, advised motorists to obey traffic laws and cooperate with FRSC officials working t a ensure free flow of traffic.

  • FRSC urges Oyo to evacuate faulty vehicles from roads

    FRSC urges Oyo to evacuate faulty vehicles from roads

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has urged relevant organs of the Oyo State Government to evacuate all faulty vehicles along some major roads in Ibadan, the state capital to check accident.

    Mr Austin Aipoh, an FRSC Zonal Commanding Officer, Zone 11, gave advice in Ibadan when he paid farewell visit to Gov. Abiola Ajimobi in his office on Friday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Aipoh, an Assistant Corps Marshall, is in charge of Oyo, Osun and Ondo zonal command of FRSC.

    Aipoh said his advice became necessary because there were faulty vehicles on the express way along Oluyole, Egbeda and Ojoo Local Government Areas of the state, stressing that such development also posed danger to motorists.

    He further urged the state government to deploy its personnel to clear bushes on the side of the major roads to curb criminal activities and adequately equip its traffic management agency to complement to ease gridlocks on the roads.

    In his remarks, Ajimobi said that the state government had reconstructed several federal roads in the state, adding it would not relent in evolving measures to improve the management roads across the state.

    Ajimobi, who was represented by Chief Moses Adeyemo, the Deputy Governor, promised that the state government would continue to create environment that would enable security personnel to operate efficiently and effectively, especially on roads.

    “The present administration has been fulfilling the core promises for which our people voted for us. Among them is the provision of standard roads in and around the state.

    “We cannot abandon federal roads in the state because they belong to the federal government; it is our people that ply the roads.

    “We won’t allow such roads to remain in bad condition while motorists suffer, we have been doing this overtime,’’ the governor said.

     

  • One dies in Ogun auto crash

    One dies in Ogun auto crash

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Tuesday confirmed the death of one person in an early morning accident that occurred on Owode-Ijako Road, Sango-Ota in Ogun.

    Mr Adekunle Oguntoyinbo, the Sango-Ota Unit Commander of FRSC, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ota that the accident occurred at about 2.00 a.m.

    Oguntoyinbo said that the accident occurred when a DAF truck marked BDG 522 XS heading toward Abeokuta from Lagos lost control due to brake failure and rammed into another articulated truck.

    He said that three persons were involved in the accident, but only one of them died.

    “The corpse of the deceased has been deposited at the Sango-Ota General Hospital,’’ the FRSC official said.

    The unit commander advised drivers to always maintain speed limits and ensure that their vehicles were road worthy before embarking on a journey to avert road accidents.

    Oguntoyinbo said that the vehicles had been towed from the scene of accident to prevent a gridlock on the road.

  • FRSC records 37.7% drop in road accidents in Kaduna in first half of 2017

    FRSC records 37.7% drop in road accidents in Kaduna in first half of 2017

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Monday said the number of road accidents recorded in Kaduna State dropped to 392 in the first half of this year.

    The figure was against the 620 accidents recorded in the corresponding period in 2016, a drop by 37.7 per cent.

    The Sector Commander, Malam Umar Ibrahim, gave the statistics in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna.

    Ibrahim said that the 620 accidents recorded in the first half of 2016 involved 856 vehicles, but the figures dropped to 392 accidents involving 555 vehicles in the same period in 2017.

    “The number of people involved in the accidents equally reduced from 4,767 to 2,699 with corresponding  decrease in the number of injured from 2,546 to 1,700,” he said.

    The sector commander did not give the number of deaths recorded in the accidents, but attributed the successes to improved attitude of motorists towards their safety.

    He said that compliance by commercial vehicle owners to the directive to install speed limit device had greatly improved in recent times.

    Ibrahim commended motorists and urged them to continue to cooperate with security agencies on the highways to ensure accident free roads.

    “I am equally calling on private vehicle owners to install the device of self regulation to control speed and save lives.

    “Political office holders can help in that regard, this is because if members of the national and state house of assemblies installed the device, others will follow.

    “I want to also say that not all accidents are the will of God as many people erroneously believed.

    “If you guard yourself against accident, God will help you, but you cannot be careless on the road and expect to be invincible.

    “Let us all join hands to keep our roads safe for all road users at all times,’’ he said.

    Ibrahim said that the command has concluded the “audit” of the entire township roads in the state to know roads that require roads signs and those that are bad and need repairs.

    He said that recommendation would soon be submitted to the appropriate authorities for immediate action.

    “Plans have also been concluded to comb the highway to take care of road side grasses obstructing drivers’ view and replace broken signs where necessary,’’ Ibrahim said.

  • FRSC laments incessant attacks on personnel in Ebonyi

    FRSC laments incessant attacks on personnel in Ebonyi

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Saturday lamented what it described as incessant attacks on its personnel discharging their lawful duties in Ebonyi.

    Mrs Stella Uchegbu, Sector Commander of the commission in the state told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that such negative development was hindering the effective discharge of their duties.

    According to Uchegbu, such incidents are recorded more along the busy Abakaliki to Enugu Federal highway.

    “The attackers do not ask questions on the actions of our personnel, or listen to explanations before attacking and leaving our staff critical wounded in most cases.

    “The question is, do they attack other security agents in such manner, or is it because we do not carry arms?” she queried.

    The sector commander lamented that despite the various avenues explored by the corps to enlighten the public on its activities, the threat had persisted.

    “Our duty is primarily to save lives but it has become pertinent that in doing so, we have to protect ourselves first.

    “Not all dehumanizing acts against our staff are made public as the offenders usually appeal that such issues are settled amicably” she said.

    She said that whenever the corps prosecuted motorists for violating traffic regulations, the culprits always felt our staff were against them.

    “When accidents caused by violating these regulations occur, they do not affect only the offenders, but innocent people, who did not violate such regulations.

    Uchegbu recalled an incident on July 28, when a bus driver abducted FRSC staff detailed to take him (driver) to the FRSC headquarters for prosecution.

    “The driver overloaded his vehicle and when our staff was detailed to take him to our office, he sped towards Enugu, which made other personnel to pursue him with our patrol vehicles.

    “The abductor’s vehicle unfortunately somersaulted and the crowd, which gathered, started brutalising our personnel, including the abductee, which left them seriously injured and hospitalised.

    “The most intriguing aspect was that a serving commissioner in the state witnessed the spectacle and was alleged to have aided the attackers,” she lamented.

     

  • Kano FRSC to reintroduce psychological test for traffic offenders

    Kano FRSC to reintroduce psychological test for traffic offenders

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Kano Sector Command, has expressed determination to reintroduce a psychological test for traffic offenders in the state.

    This is contained in a statement by the Public Relations Officer of the Command, Alhaji Kabiru Daura and made available to newsmen in Kano on Wednesday.

    The statement said the planed psychological test would be carried out at designated medical facilities with a view to finding out the road users mental ability.

    It said the exercise would commence in earnest and was designed to focus on the pattern of human behavior, identified as life threatening.

    It stated that, by implication, any motorist who committed one or multiple offences would be susceptible to such test.

    The statement noted that, over the years, the FRSC had embarked on several measures of road traffic dysfunctional deterrence, ranging from public education to subtle force, full enforcement as well as introduction of speed limiting device.

    It said the effort was primarily geared towards ensuring safer monitoring environment, affirming that efforts of the corps had yielded positive results.

    It stated that the multiple road challenges led to the institution of the test and urged motorists to be law abiding.

    “The call is necessary to avoid being subjected to the examination process and subsequent withdrawal of driver’s licence when the outcome of the test indicates a negative mental status,” the statement said.

  • FRSC confers honourary special marshal on Okei-Odumakin

    FRSC confers honourary special marshal on Okei-Odumakin

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Wednesday conferred honourary special marshal to rights activist, Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin,  for defending FRSC officers reportedly attacked by security operatives attached to the Speaker of Abia Assembly, Mr Chikwendu Kalu.

    The Corps Marshal, Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, made the conferment on Okei-Odumakin, President of Women Arise for Change Initiative (WA), at WA Office on Omole Estate, Lagos.

    Two FRSC personnel were on July 15 reportedly shot by policemen attached to Kalu.

    The officers were said to have stopped a vehicle conveying the speaker’s wife, on the Umuikaa-Aba-Port Harcourt Expressway. The officers reportedly stopped the vehicle over a traffic offence.

    “Legal action is a process, and we can all see what the inspector-general of police has already done; the policemen involved have been tried and dismissed.

    “For the speaker, we have engaged our solicitors. We have filed all the papers now; legal process is not what you wake up today and conclude; you must follow the process.
    “The wife will be charged with traffic offence. The husband too will be charged. Let us meet in the court.

    “Denying it is wrong; he should have accepted what has happened publicly and closed the matter, but now that he has denied it, we will meet in court,” Oyeyemi said.

    He said that the corps would continue to partner with civil societies which, he said, had a crucial role to play in road management through advocacy, public education and enlightenment.

    In her address, Okei-Odumakin commended FRSC leadership for the honour.
    She called for synergy between civil societies and security agencies for effective road management, giving the assurance that WA would not let Nigeria down.

    “There is need for consensus building between FRSC, civil societies and the general public. As a civil society, we have done many things with law enforcement agencies.

    “We will continue in our advocacy, education and enlightenment to ensure that road users obey road rules and orders,” she said.

  • FRSC seeks arrest, prosecution of Abia Speaker, wife

    FRSC seeks arrest, prosecution of Abia Speaker, wife

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has called for the arrest and prosecution of those involved in the recent shooting of two of its officials in Abia.

    The Public Education Officer and spokesman of the Corps, Mr Bisi Kazeem, made the call on Tuesday while reacting to the reported dismissal of a Police Corporal, Iroh Orji, over the incident.

    Orji, who was an orderly to the Speaker of Abia House of Assembly, allegedly pulled the trigger on the FRSC officials at their duty post on July 15.

    The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Leye Oyebade, announced Orji’s dismissal from the Force on Monday, saying that he was found guilty of the offence during an orderly room trial.

    Kazeem told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the policeman’s dismissal was a welcomed development.

    He, however, called for the criminal prosecution of Orji and others involved in the shooting, including the Speaker, his wife and an operative of the Department of State Services (DSS).

    He said “the corporal’s dismissal is a welcome development, which shows that the police have zero tolerance for acts of indiscipline and lawlessness among their men.

    “But, we call on the police to institute criminal proceedings against him and others involved in the act of criminality against our men.

    “We have made this demand in writing to the Director of DSS in Abia, who said he had made recommendation to headquarters for disciplinary action against the operative.

    “The director said the recommendation had to be verified and approved by headquarters before action could be taken.’’

    Kazeem said that FRSC had also written to the police command in the state seeking the arrest of the speaker, his wife and the driver of the vehicle involved in the incident.

    The speaker, Mr Chikwendu Kalu, is alleged to have ordered the shooting of the FRSC officials, but he has denied the allegation.

    NAN recalls that the incident occurred at Arungwa Junction (near Aba) on the Enugu-Port-Harcourt highway.

    Kalu’s wife, Victoria, was said to be travelling to Aba when the FRSC men flagged down her vehicle and attempted to book her for seatbelt violation.

    A heated argument ensued during which she allegedly pounced on the road safety officials with the help of a female DSS operative, who was travelling with her.

    Eyewitnesses said that the woman called her husband, who arrived at the scene and allegedly ordered his orderly to shoot the FRSC officials.

    When the speaker visited the victims at the hospital the next day, he was said to have been denied access into the ward where the FRSC officials were receiving treatment.

    One of the wounded officials said “I saw him at the scene. What if we had died, he would have come to see our corpses.”

    But, the speaker blamed the incident on “over-zealousness’’ of the security officers involved.

    “I strongly condemn any over-zealousness on the side of any security personnel, be it anyone, not to now talk of being the Police, FRSC, the Army and Department of State Services.

    “I think I will be the last person to encourage it because it doesn’t augur well with state and the country at large,’’ he said.

  • Police dismiss cop for firing at FRSC officials in Aba

    Police dismiss cop for firing at FRSC officials in Aba

    The Commissioner of Police in Abia, Mr Leye Oyebade, said on Monday that the force haf dismissed Police Corporal Iroh Orji, for shooting two officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) at Aba.

    Oyebade said this while addressing newsmen on the activities of the command.

    He said that Orji was tried and found guilty of the offence and had to be dismissed from the police.

    He said that “the command and the police hierarchy condemned the action of the corporal,” describing his action as a negation of the laid down rules of the force.

    He said, “Police do not advise its members to use their arms and ammunition recklessly.

    “Any armed police officer is expected to protect people not to shoot at them,” he said.

    The corporal, who was an orderly to the Speaker of the Abia House of Assembly, Mr Chikwendu Kalu, reportedly allegedly shot at the FRSC officials at their duty post on July 15.

    The incident took place at Arungwa Junction (near Aba) on the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway.

    It was learnt that Orji accompanied the speakers’s wife, Victoria, on a trip to Aba when the FRSC men flagged down their vehicle, alleging that she (Victoria) did not fasten her seat belt.

    It was further gathered that Orji shot at the men during an argument that ensued, when the FRSC men insisted on booking them for seat belt violation.

    Oyebade regretted the incident, saying that it was capable of causing disaffection between the police and other sister security agencies.

    “All the security agencies in the state have been working in synergy with one another.

    “Regrettably, this type of ugly incident is capable of bringing us at loggerheads with other agencies and it will not be healthy for our operations,” he said.

    NAN reports that 29 suspects were arrested for various criminal offences, including armed robbery, kidnapping, child trafficking and car snatching.
    Oyebade said that they would be prosecuted at the end of the investigation.

  • 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.