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Tag: Federal Road Safety Corps

  • Road crashes kill 30 in Ogun during Yuletide

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Ogun Command, on Friday, said that 30 persons died in various road crashes during the Yuletide in the state.

    Mr Clement Oladele, the Ogun FRSC Sector Commander, disclosed this in a statement signed by the Command’s Public Education Officer, Florence Okpe, in Abeokuta.

    He said over one million vehicles plied Ogun roads during the Yuletide out of which 63 crashes were recorded.

    Oladele said 305 people were rescued from the various crashes.

    The report detailed the command’s Special Patrol Operation tagged: “Safe Driving, Safe Arrival” covering December 1, 2018 to January 15.

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    “Commercial vehicles accounted for the dominant type of vehicles that plied the expressway, which represented 72 per cent at 726,018 vehicles.

    “A total of 281,612 which represented 27.9per cent of these vehicles were private vehicles.

    “During the Yuletide too, a total of Eight million, seven hundred and twelve thousand, two hundred and sixteen (8,712,216) passengers were transported by commercial vehicles on the Lagos – Ibadan Expressway.

    “The high number of vehicle travels during the Yuletide, can be attributed to the removal of the diversions earlier placed across sections of the Lagos – Ibadan Expressway, especially at Mowe/Ibafo and Ogunmakin/Ogere, respectively.

    “A total of 305 persons are rescued from road traffic crashes that occurred during the Yuletide,” he said.

    The sector commander, while praying for repose of the souls of those that died during the period, commended motorists for their cooperation with the FRSC and other sister agencies for a successful special patrol operations.(NAN)

  • ‘I’ll work harder with my new rank’

    The Badagry Unit Commander of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Assistant Corps Commander Fatai Adesina Bakare, has pledged to work harder with his new rank to enable the Corps achieve its objectives.

    He made this known after he was decorated with his new rank, describing the new status as a challenge to be more efficient.

    Bakare was privileged to be among the 103 serving personnel promoted in RS2 Zone in Lagos State as he was elevated from the rank of Assistant Corps Commander (ACC) to Deputy Corps Commander (DCC).

    Others decorated with the multiple award winning officers from the rank of ACC to DCC were: Mowe Unit Commander, Ganiyu Kehinde Hamzat; Itori-Yahaya Aliyu; Ojota- Innocent Etuk and Sagamu-Mohammed Abdullahi.

    Bakare was born in 1965 at Iragbiji, Boripe Local Government Area of Osun State. He had both elementary and secondary education in Osun State before attending Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, for his Bachelor of Arts (BA Hons) degree in Education and Yoruba Language.

    He was employed as one of the senior lecturers of Federal College of Education in Kastina State, in 1995, before he later joined FRSC in 1997 as Route Commander in Osogbo Sector Command of the Corps.

    Bakare had served in several capacities in FRSC which include Head of Operations in different Units: ‘RS5.22 Agbor, RS6.11 Eleme, RS8.13 Jebba and RS2.24 Ogere.

    He had also served as Unit Commander in Itori, Ogun State, Agbor and presently Badagry Unit Command.

    DCC Bakare always lifted the face of any Command he works and always made the jurisdiction more memorable and safer for the users through rigorous safety campaigns to motor parks, religious homes, markets and schools.

    He always established best synergy/collaboration with other sister agencies and transport stakeholders in ensuring reduction of traffic crashes and controlling of traffic in all critical corridors.

    DCC Bakare had through his effective and efficient performances rewarded with several awards from Federal Road Safety Commission. This include 2018 best Unit Commander on synergy/collaboration, while his present Badagry Unit Commander won the best Unit Command in Operations and Patrol vehicle utilisation. He had also been recognised as best performance officer by the Oba De Wheno Aholu Menu Toyi 1, Akran of Badagry and many unnamed awards from groups in the society.

    DCC Bakare thanked the Corps Marshal for recommended him for promotion and appealed to other junior officers to continue putting their best and abstain from any form of indiscipline that can tarnish the image of FRSC.

    Addressing the newly promoted officers, the RS2 Zonal Commander, Assistant Corps Marshal John Meheux, said the promotion was a reward for effective and efficient performance and urged them to put in extra efforts to their duties.

    He congratulated officers and marshals on behalf of FRSC Board and Management for their well-deserved promotion, saying the expectations of government in ensuring that the purpose for the creation of the Corps, which is reduction, if not total elimination of accidents on the roads, still remain relevant.

    Promotion is from God, I, therefore, charge you to put in extra efforts in ensuring that the corps’ corporate strategies of zero fatalities are achieved,” he said.

    Meheux advised others, who for one reason or the other were not promoted, to be of good spirit and put in more efforts.

    “God willing, next year promotion exercise will be good.

    “Much is expected of all of us, heavy traffic is being experienced on all our corridors, I charge you all to be alive to your duties and be ready to work 24 hours,” Meheux said.

  • 955 persons charged to FRSC mobile courts

    The Federal Road Safety Corps ( FRSC ) said no fewer than 955 persons were arraigned in its mobile courts for various offences across the country in 2018.

    Corps Public Education Officer, Mr Bisi Kazeem, made this known in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja, on Monday.

    Kazeem said that the corps had over 201 courts nationwide and that it was part of its “Operation Zero Tolerance for Road Traffic Crashes” campaign.

    “In 2018, in the operation zero tolerance period, a total of 955 offenders were arraigned as against 442 in the same period in 2017.

    “Out of the arraigned offenders, nine were sentenced to prison while 89 were discharged and acquitted during the period in 2018,” he said.

    He also said that in December, 2018, 350 offenders were referred to government established medical facilities for Emotional Stability Test.

    “The prevalent offences that were committed by the offenders are route violation, dangerous driving, light sign violation and use of phone while driving.”

    Kazeem said that the number of road traffic crashes recorded in 2018 was 8, 221, involving a total of 60,050 people.

    He added that the corps had put in place proactive measures, including inauguration of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Safety of Haulage Operations in Nigeria, to reduce crashes in the country.

    “The committee comprises of critical stakeholders in the transport sector like NARTO, NURTW, RTEAN, NUPENG PTD, traffic agencies among others.”

    The spokesman said that the committee was saddled with the mandate of curbing crashes involving tankers and other articulated vehicles on the highways.

    “Suffice to state that the establishment of the Operation Cobra team by the Corps Marshal, Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, is also a step in the right direction.”

  • Mobile courts convict 65 traffic offenders in Bayelsa during yuletide – FRSC

    The Federal Road Safety Corps Bayelsa State Command says 65 persons were convicted through its mobile courts over various traffic offences during recent Christmas and New Year celebrations.

    The Sector Commander, Mr Ikechukwu Igwe, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria in an interview in Yenagoa on Saturday.

    Igwe said the command conducted three mobile courts between December 19, 2018 and January 3 during which 65 road traffic offenders were convicted.

    “In all, a total of 80 persons were arrested but 65 were convicted; out of the 65 persons, 17 were discharged and acquitted at the mobile sittings done within the period,” he explained.

    Igwe said among the offences the convicts were charged with included dangerous driving, failure to install speed limiting device, use of mobile phones while driving among others.

    He said the mobile courts were part of the measures taken to ensure safety on the roads in the state during and after the yuletide.

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    ”We recorded success from our operations during the yuletide season; of course, all our men were deployed for special patrols before, during and after the yuletide,” the commander said.

    On road crashes in the period, Igwe disclosed that the command recorded some crashes with one death while 35 persons sustained injuries.

    He added that one of the crashes along East-West road was “hit-and-run” and urged road users to steer clear of violating traffic rules and regulations.

    NAN

     

  • FRSC, Indomie seek pupils’ input in road safety

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the managers of the Indomie Fan Club (IFC)  for children aged five to 12 have emphasised the need for Nigeria to deepen road safety rules in the primary school curriculum.

    Making the call in Lagos during the IFC Road Safety Quiz Competition, Sector Commander of FRSC,  Mr Hyginus Omeje, said  that  such action would ensure that  school  children  learn road safety rules early in life for survival, even as he urged primary school operators in Lagos to establish Federal Road Safety Clubs in their schools.

    The competition was organised by IFC in partnership with the Lagos Sector Command of the FRSC, Lagos.

    Omeje, who was represented by FRSC Deputy Corps Commander, Olalekan Morakinyo, said when the children are taught road safety rules early, such knowledge remains with them till adulthood, which he said, had a potential to reduce their involvement in road accidents.

    “One of the major reasons for our partnership is to help towards deepening general safety knowledge among the pupils and to use them as agents of change in our society,” he said.

    For some months, the FRSC and IFC having jointly visited schools teaching school children about road safety issues. The IFC Road Safety Quiz Competition assessed the pupils’ level of understanding of road safety protocols.

    Twenty-seven IFC-supported schools drawn from all the local government councils in Lagos participated in the elimination stage of the competition held at the FRSC Sector Command, Ojodu Berger, Lagos.

    Kings Crown School, Surulere, came in first; Doncas Private School, Ikotun, came second, while First Baptist School, Kosofe, came third. Paragon Nursery and Primary School, Somolu, came fourth.

  • Guinness, FRSC flag off Ember month’s safety campaign

    Guinness Nigeria in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has kicked off its 2018 “Ember Months” Responsibility Drinking Awareness Campaign; a special road safety programme to reduce carelessness on the roads during the last quarter of the year through to the holiday season.

    The campaign which has been ongoing for 14 years now has been in partnership between Guinness Nigeria and the FRSC and the strategic safety campaign aims to enlighten motorists and the public about the dangers of drink-driving, especially during the last quarter of the year when celebrations, festivities and human vehicular traffic tend to be at their peak.

    The event which was held at the Mangoro Asade Motor Park in Lagos had in attendance the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), the FRSC Sector Commander for Lagos State, Hyginus Omeje, the FRSC Zonal Commanding Officer, John Meheux, officers and men of the Federal Road Safety Corps, the Guinness Nigeria Leadership Team, and other transportation related stakeholders.

    Among the activities that occurred at the kick-off event were the donation of breathalyzer kits, devices that test if a motorist is driving under the influence of alcohol; to the FRSC, a dance drama with a theme that emphasised the, “no drinking and driving.”

  • FRSC warns market women against displaying goods on highway

    The Ifo Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps, (FRSC) has advised sellers in Ogun to desist from selling goods on highways in order to avoid unnecessary loss of lives.

    Mr Joshua Ibitomi, the Ifo Unit Commander of FRSC, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria  on Friday in Ota, Ogun.

    According to him, the advice is important so as to prevent vehicles running into those selling goods on the roads.

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    He said that such sellers, apart from obstructing flow of traffic, expose their lives to danger on the roads.

    ”There is the need for sellers to have consideration for other road users to prevent traffic congestion on the roads,” Ibitomi said.

    He said that traders who spread their wares on the roads made it difficult for commercial buses to drop passengers at some locations.

    The Unit Commander urged the state government to provide affordable shops for the sellers.

  • Road traffic crash claims two lives in Ondo

    Two  people were confirmed dead and five injured in a road traffic accident involving a tanker conveying petroleum product and two other vehicles at Shasha Market along Akure-Owo Expressway.

    Mr Olusegun Ogungbemide, Deputy Sector Commander of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Ondo state Command, confirmed the incident to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in a telephone interview in Akure on Wednesday.

    “There was a crash this morning at Shasha Market involving a tanker and two other vehicles.

    “We got information that a tanker had a break failure and hit a vehicle and entered into a filling station while the other truck, in trying to avoid the tanker, ran into an opposite filling station.

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    “Two people died at a spot while five injured were rushed to a hospital in Akure.

    “So, we are still doing a follow-up but the obstruction is already cleared and the road is free now,” Ogungbemide said.

    He called on tanker drivers and other motorists to ensure that their vehicles were in good order before embarking on any journey, especially during the yuletide to avoid road crashes.

    “Motorists should try and put their vehicles in order.

    “We have been doing the advocacy for long, that when they get to busy area, they should reduce their speed to the minimum speed limit and have respect for other road users.

    “And, this season, motorists should know that activities on the road are high and they should drive with every cautiousness that it deserves,” he said.

  • Review age limit on FRSC recruitment, Applicants urge FG

    Some applicants at the ongoing Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) recruitment on Wednesday urged the Federal Government to review the age limit of prospective candidates.

    They told the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos that government should review the age limit from 30 years to 35 years.

    FRSC had stipulated that candidates with First Degree and Higher National Diploma must not be more than 30 years of age.

    Also, the National Certificate of Education (NCE), National Diploma and other equivalents must not be more than 28 years.

    One of the applicants in Lagos, Mr Samuel Ogunmolu, told newsmen that majority of candidates might not make it to the final stage due to age limitation.

    Ogunmolu said that many of the applicants who were above the required age were not qualified according to the ongoing screening process.

    “We appeal to the Federal Government to consider us so that we will not turn to wasted generations.

    “This age discrimination is a big challenge to youths in this country.

    “Banking sector is a no go area as a result of the same age challenge; we are begging the government to consider us for the job,” he said.

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    Another applicant, Mrs Titilayo Adebayo, told newsmen that both age and marital status had discouraged her in the screening process.

    Adebayo said that the screening procedure favoured singles and candidates below 30 years.

    “It is unfortunate that youths in this country found themselves in this situation.

    “After spending many years in schools from primary to tertiary institutions, government still denied us job because of our age, it is very unfortunate.

    “At least, it is not our fault to attain such age before applying for the job, strike in various institutions contributed with the fact that private sectors require five years working experience.

    “As a fresh graduate, obviously, I cannot produce what I do not have; I only have a year working experience which is youth service to the nation.

    “So, all these contribute to applicants attaining 30 years above before applying for the job.

    “There should be no age discrimination in this government’s work so far the applicant is fitted for the job,’’ she said.

    Adebayo urged the government to urgently review the ongoing screening to accommodate more applicants to the agency.

    “Many of us were depressed at the screening ground; though the officials are handling the situation with caution and care.

    “We know that only the applicants with the required age will be shortlisted because everything is done transparently,’’ she added.

    NAN reports that Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, the Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) had said that applicants with tattoos, bow and K legs would be disqualified from its ongoing screening.

    Oyeyemi disclosed this to NAN on Tuesday while inspecting the screening at Ikeja 9 Brigades Military Cantonment in Lagos.

    “Likewise pregnant and married women, we can’t take them because that is the rule for uniform services,” Oyeyemi said.

  • ‘Ember’ months: FRSC commences monitoring of vehicles, drivers

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Badagry-Seme Command, on Sunday said that his oficers had commenced the monitoring of vehicles and drivers in different parks before they embark on any  journey during the ’ember’ months.

    The Unit Commander, Mr Fatai Bakare, told our reporters in Badagry that the programme was to ensure accident free ’ember’ months and beyond.

    According to the unit commander, “We will be going to parks with our paramedics to test drivers before they embark on any  journey.

    “We are going to be practical this time around; this is beyond talking to people, before embarking on a journey, we will do random checking.

    “We are going to check the blood pressure and eye sights of drivers because we believe most of the accidents occur made through human errors.

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    “Before you embark on a journey, you have already planned it. How do you describe somebody whose vision is 45 per cent in order and is about to drive a vehicle from Badagry to Kano.

    “How do you describe a situation whereby somebody whose blood pressure is 210 over 140 and is the driver to transport  passengers  on  a long journey?

    “So, we will check the tyres of the vehicle, what is in your brake fluid container? Is it water missed with surf or the recommended brake fluid?

    “We are going to check the whippers, because it is somehow, funny  that some drivers during the  rainy  season will be using their handkerchiefs instead of the whippers to clean their vehicles’ windscreens.

    “This is a form of distraction that is capable of distracting them from driving well on the road,” he said.

    Bakare said that after each exercise whatever information gathered would be sent out to various leaders in the various garages or parks.

    He said that the  unit was building on the already ongoing public enlightenment programme embarked on since the year began.