The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC)

  • Two FRSC officers shot, hospitalised in Abia

    Two FRSC officers shot, hospitalised in Abia

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Saturday confirmed the shooting of two of its officers on duty in Abia.

    An eyewitness had earlier told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the officers were shot by security aides to a top government official in the state.

    The Public Education Officer of the Corps, Mr Bisi Kazeem, who confirmed the shooting to NAN, was silent on the identity of those responsible.

    Kazeem said the matter had been reported to the police for investigation, while the victims were receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital.

    “It is true that our officers were shot this afternoon. The matter has been reported to the police and we are awaiting the outcome of their investigation.

    “The wounded officers have been hospitalised, and they are in stable condition.

    “This will not deter our men from carrying out their duties, but would rather embolden them to make our roads safer for Nigerians,” he said.

    NAN learnt that the incident occurred at Umuikea Junction in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area.

    According to the eyewitness, an FRSC patrol team had flagged down the vehicle conveying the government official’s wife for seatbelt violation.

    “The lady was in her vehicle with two other females and none of them was wearing their seatbelts.

    “As the road safety officers were talking to them about it, they flared up and started assaulting the officers.

    “The big man’s wife called her husband’s security aides, who rushed to the scene and started shooting sporadically.

    “In the process, one of the FRSC officers was hit in the arm, and the other in neck and waists,” the eyewitness said.

  • Speed violation, overloading among leading causes of road crashes – FRSC

    Speed violation, overloading among leading causes of road crashes – FRSC

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has identified speed violation, use of cell phone while driving and overloading as leading causes of road accidents in the country.

    Mr Rindom Kumven, its Sector Commander in Delta, and Mr Dickson Amromawhe, Coordinator, Special Marshall Unit, identified the causes on Wednesday, at the FRSC Town Hall Forum in Warri.

    The Forum was organised for stakeholders to examine measures to minimise loss of lives through road crashes.

    Kumven particularly condemned the habit of writing and send text messages on phones while driving, lighting of cigarettes, intake of alcohol and non-use of seat belts.

    “Such habits are very dangerous and must be avoided,” he said.

    He said that the offences were common which prompted the introduction of speed limiters, psychological tests on drivers, and other stiff measures aimed at curbing the violation of traffic rules.

    The commander said that four offenders had so far undergone mental tests in Delta, but added that none was found psychologically imbalanced.

    “The cost of such psychological tests, carried out in designated hospitals, are borne by the offenders,” he said.

    Kumven said that enlightenment on safety on roads had been taken to markets, places of worship and motor parks, and urged members of the public to promote it.

    Amromawhe, on his part, blamed most accidents on the lack of concentration while driving.

    “After a quarrel with your spouse at home, don’t drive.

    “It is emotionally dangerous if you cannot give 100 per cent concentration,” he said.

    The Special Marshal boss, however, advised drivers to keep a safe distance from truck drivers, alleging that some of them (truck drivers) drive under the influence of alcohol.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the forum had representatives from schools, the Nigeria Army,  Navy, Air Force, the Nigeria Police, among others.

    Also in attendance were  chairmen of local governments, lecturers from the Federal University of Petroleum Resources (FUPRE), and youth groups.

  • Osibanjo assures completion of collapsed Mokwa-Jebba Bridge

    Osibanjo assures completion of collapsed Mokwa-Jebba Bridge

    Acting President Yemi Osibanjo has assured that the temporary bridge linking the Mokwa-Jebba road would be completed in the next two weeks to ease the difficulties faced by motorists using the route.

    Just as he said that the federal government is working towards reviving the rail transportation as an alternative means of transportation to reduce damages on the roads.

    The Acting President stated this Monday when he visited the collapse bridge at Tatubu village in Mokwa local government area of Niger state.

    “This is an important route and we can assure you all that the temporary road would be done as fast as possible. we have gotten the assurances from the contractor handling the road. the road will be prone passable in a forthnight. by then, I believe that there will be better movement of goods and vehicles.”

    Osibanjo said that everything is being mobilised for the completion of the temporary road, “although there are challenges in moving materials from Jenna to the site, everyone is committed to making sure that the road is made passable as quickly as possible.”

    He however lamented that most of the roads across the country are taking more loads than they can carry which is causing the collpase of several roads and bridges across the country.

    “This is a huge nation with several road network and we have to understand that most of the roads are taking much heavy traffic and tonnage than they can take. This road for instance is supposed to take 35 tonnes but it is taking 70 genes vehicles.”

    The Acting President said that focus is being paid to revitalising the rail network emphazing the need for an alternative way of transportation that will ease the tension off the road, “the roads are not strong enough to take 70 to 80 tonnes of load, that is why we are working hard to make sure the rail network itakes off as soon as possible.”

    He appealed to the motorists to exercise patience and cooperate with the contractors to ensure that the work goes smoothly and fast.

    Earlier, the Director of Highway Designs and Bridges from the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transportation in charge of the project, Engineer Sylvester Jijingi explained that it will take 14 days for the completion of the temporary bridge while the permanent bridge which would be a dual bridge will be complete by December.

    He said that N2.5 million have been released for the completion of the project.

    Jijingi stated that the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Police and men from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps are on ground to ensure free traffic flow adding that they are working round the clock to ensure that the project is completed on schedule.

     

    “This is an important route and we can assure you all that the temporary road would be done as fast as possible. we have gotten the assurances from the contractor handling the road. the road will be prone passable in a forthnight by then, I believe that there will be better movement of goods and vehicles.”

     

     

  • FRSC inaugurates 85 students into road safety club in Ogun

    FRSC inaugurates 85 students into road safety club in Ogun

    No fewer than 85 students from various Schools were inaugurated into a road safety club by the Agbado/Ifo Unit Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ogun on Monday.

    The Agbado/Ifo Unit Commander of FRSC, Asst. Corps Commander (ACC), Chinwendu Iwuoha, disclosed this during the inauguration at Ebenezer Comprehensive High School, Agbado.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that pupils from the six schools inaugurated included Duke Hall School, The Frontliner Schools, Florence Day Schools, St. Anthony International Schools, Anthony Academy and Masterpiece Schools.

    According to her, there is the need to educate and teach the children safety issues, so that they will not depart from it when they grow up.

    She said that the initiative was part of the FRSC’s 2017 corporate strategic goals to catch the children young, so as to reduce road crashes.

    “We are going to organise rallies for these children by inculcating safety issues in them so that they would not deviate from it when they grow up.

    “These children would be able to tutor others on safety issues, as well as talking to their parents because some of these parents find it difficult to change their behavior as regards safety on our roads,’’ Iwuoha said.

    The unit commander said that these crop of children, when they start driving in the future, would be able to make our roads safer since they have been familiarised with safety issues.

    Mr Clement Oladele, the Ogun Sector Commander of FRSC, said that crashes could have been reduced to the barest level if drivers had the mind of children.

    Oladele, however, implored drivers in the country to emulate the children and respect other road users, to save lives and property.

    The sector commander said that the club also would offer the children the opportunity to make better use of the highways in the future.

    “It is important we teach the children safety rules so that they would respect rules guarding the highways in the future,’’ he added.

  • Five dead, 10 injured in Edo auto crash

    Five dead, 10 injured in Edo auto crash

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has confirmed the death of five persons in a road traffic accident involving several vehicles on the Benin-Auchi road in Edo, on Saturday.

    Mr Bisi Kazeem, FRSC Public Education Officer, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that 10 persons were injured in the incident that occurred at the Ewu slope area of the route.

    “The accident involved six vehicles, including two trailers, two Toyota buses and an Audi 80 car.

    “The crash was caused by a head-on collision and a total of 40 persons were involved,” he said.

    Kazeem said that the injured were taken to hospitals in nearby Auchi, Irrua and Agbede towns.

  • 5 dead, 10 injured in Edo auto crash

    5 dead, 10 injured in Edo auto crash

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has confirmed the death of five persons in a road traffic accident involving several vehicles on the Benin-Auchi road in Edo, on Saturday.

    Mr Bisi Kazeem, FRSC Public Education Officer, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that 10 persons were injured in the incident that occurred at the Ewu slope area of the route.

    “The accident involved six vehicles, including two trailers, two Toyota buses and an Audi 80 car.

    “The crash was caused by a head-on collision and a total of 40 persons were involved,” he said.

    Kazeem said that the injured were taken to hospitals in nearby Auchi, Irrua and Agbede towns. (NAN)

  • Woman killed, seven injured as vehicle veers into thick forest

    A vehicle carrying members of one family on Wednesday veered into a thick forest in Hawan Kibo, along the Jos-Abuja road, killing a woman and leaving seven others with serious injuries.

    Among those injured were two other women, two men and three children., while a three-month-old baby escaped unhurt.

    Eye witness told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the vehicle went out of control, somersaulting several times in the bush before crashing into a tree.

    “Apparently, the driver lost control because the vehicle was in high speed; the car just jumped up and disappeared into the forest,” the witness, a petty trader along the highway, told NAN.

    NAN observed that the vehicle, a Jeep, was badly damaged, with the witness saying that some parts of it had to be cut or broken, to pull out the trapped passengers.

    Mr Andrew Bala, a road safety officer, who confirmed the incident, blamed the accident on speeding.

    “Preliminary investigation shows that the accident was caused by speeding. We have always warned against this, but people hardly listen,” Bala, Public Education Officer, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Plateau Command, told NAN.

    He said that the injured victims had been taken to the Kafanchan General Hospital in Kaduna State.

  • Four die in Ondo auto crash

    Four die in Ondo auto crash

    Four persons including two girls said to be commercial sex workers have been confirmed dead in a ghastly motor accident which occurred at Yaba, in Ondo town.

    The incident which happened shortly after a torrential rainfall involved a brown colour Volvo car marked Anambra 265 AAH and a truck with Registration no Lagos 858 EKY, occurred at about 10:30 pm on Sunday while the victims were returning from a night show.

    It was reliably gathered that the Volvo driver said to be a popular trader at Ododibo street in Ondo was coming from Agbogboke axis in the same direction had earlier clashed with a commercial motorcyclist and escaped from the scene before suddenly veered off the road and rammed into the truck parked beside the road.

    Scores of symphatisers were seen removing the lifeless body of the victims already trapped inside the vehicle, several personal effects of the victims and human parts were littered the spot.

    Some sympathizers including members of the family and friends of the victims were wailing as blood stains and broken glasses covered the whole area.

    A senior police officer attached to the Motor Traffic Division (MTD) of the Yaba divisional police station who also participated in the rescue operation, described the development as unfortunate.

    The MTD official said it happened barely nine days after one of the victims had similar incident with a commercial motorcycle operator in the town.

    The police officer said the report was communicated to their office through a distress call made by residents of the community after they heard a loud bang from the scene  of the incident located few meters to their office.

    He said some officers quickly rushed to the scene for rescue operation with some residents of the area.

    The police officers confirmed that three persons  died on the spot, while another one sustained injuries and rushed to Ondo Specialist Hospital for medical attention, but was later confirmed dead by the doctors.

    The Ondo town unit commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) RS Unit 11, Olarewaju Adewumi, an Assistant Corps Commander (ACC) said he was currently away from the community to observe his annual leave.

    The Head of Operations in Ondo town Unit Command ,Mrs. Mary Oladele, described the development as unfortunate

  • Eid-el-fitr: FRSC deploys 150 personnel in Bauchi metropolis

    Eid-el-fitr: FRSC deploys 150 personnel in Bauchi metropolis

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Bauchi state command, says it will deploy over 150 of its officer to ensure hitch-free Eid –el-fitr celebration in Bauchi metropolis.

    FRSC Sector Commander in the state, Mr Abdulrazak Najume, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bauchi on Friday that in addition, all major roads leading to the state capital would be closed to traffic from 6am on Sallah day, to be opened after the prayer session.

    He said the measure was taken to avoid traffic jam in the morning hours when Muslim faithful would troop out to the prayer ground, noting that in the past heavy trucks entering the metropolis had created problem during the prayer session.

    “We will deploy 150 officers in Bauchi metropolis to ensure free flow of traffic; all federal roads will be closed from 6am on Eid day, till after the prayer session.

    “This is to avoid traffic jam that is usually caused by heavy trucks coming into or moving out of the metropolis.

    “The roads will be opened as soon as the prayer ends and the emir moves back to the palace,” he said.

    The commander called on celebrants, to be law-abiding and adhere to traffic rules, just as he reminded those travelling that ‘life has no spare parts,’ hence the need to wear seat belts and observe speed limit.

    Meanwhile, the Bauchi Police command had reminded the public of the ban on use of fire crackers during festivities.

    In a statement issued by the command through its spokesman, it said use of fire crackers was risky, as such would not be tolerated.

    “The use of Knock-outs, Fire crackers and other forms of fireworks in the town constitute serious security risk as it is capable of misleading security personnel, as well as instill  fear in the minds of peace loving citizens.

    “In view of this, parents and guardians are advised to warn their children not to use Knock-outs as the law governing the sales, purchase and use of Fireworks is still in force,” it said.

    The command said it was fully prepared to ensure that law-abiding citizens of the state enjoyed Eid-el-fitr peacefully.

  • FRSC to enforce emotional, mental evaluation of traffic offenders

    FRSC to enforce emotional, mental evaluation of traffic offenders

    Mr. Kehinde Adeleye, the Zonal Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) RS5, Benin, says the organisation will enforce emotional and mental evaluation of traffic offenders.

    Adeleye made the assertion during his second quarter inspection of the Anambra Command Headquarters in Awka on Wednesday.

    The zonal commander said the FRSC would carry out the tests to check offenders’ level of stability.

    He advised motorists in the zone to change their attitude and avoid being caught in the web of the new policy.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that RS5, Benin comprises Anambra, Delta and Edo states.

    Adeleye said the enforcement of the new traffic management policy would be comprehensive, adding that it had become expedient to check recklessness and enhance safety.

    The zonal commander said that so many lives had been lost on the highways, noting that some of the offences that would attract tests include use of phones, route violation and speeding.

    Adeleye, however, said that there was improvement on some of FRSC’s activities in the second quarter of 2016, adding that the corps should not relent in its efforts.

    “The FRSC has come up with a project to address the anomalies in the behaviour of road users; people using phone while driving and people engaging in excessive speeding.

    “It will also address those who fail to install speed limiter in their vehicles and people who drive against traffic.

    “With the good roads and no gridlock, we observe that people still chose to drive against traffic,” the zonal commander said.

    “Motorists caught committing these offences will be subjected to emotional and mental evaluation to check their level of stability and we are going to enforce that seriously.

    “I am using this opportunity to appeal to road users to be conscious of their safety and do everything possible to promote their safety.

    “Across the zone, there has been tremendous improvement over the first quarter in the areas of enforcement, public enlightenment and stakeholders’ engagement.”

    According to him, our response time to crash scenes has also improved to about five to six minutes.

    Adeleye commended the Anambra Command of the FRSC, headed by Mr. Sunday Ajayi, for a good job in keeping the corridor safe.

    He also thanked the state government for donating three motorcycles to the command to enhance its operations.

    “The Anambra Government came to our aid with three motorcycles to enhance our patrol monitoring; and we intend to monitor the whole routes,” he said.

    Contributing, Ajayi said the visit of the zonal commander was re-energising and would motivate them to do more for the safety of the people.

    “We cannot assess ourselves. The important thing is that we have not lost track in our duty to reduce crash and death.

    “The zonal commander is here to evaluate the situation in Anambra and with his coming we have been directed again on what to do.

    “We shall leverage on that to ensure that roads in Anambra become the safest in Nigeria,”