Tag: FRSC

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has deployed 42,000 personnel, comprising 28,000 Regular and 14,000 special marshals, to the highways to ensure hitch-free movement as commuters travel from one destination to another during Christmas and New Year’s celebration.

The corps has also deployed 157 administrative vehicles, 754 patrol vehicles, 143 ambulances, and 48 tow trucks for the season.

The spokesman of the FRSC, Assistant Corps Marshal Olusegun Ogungbemide, disclosed this while fielding questions at a press briefing by the Strategic Communications Interagency Policy Committee (SCIPC) in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) Abuja.

Ogungbemide said the Corps had begun lecture on “Zero Tolerance” to road crashes which begun on Sunday and would end by January 15, 2025. 

He said: “The deployment of men already commenced. We have about 42,000 men – that is 28,000 regulars and 14,000 special marshals – that are already deployed for this exercise. This is because if you look at the fatality that is recorded, it is quite alarming and it means all hands must be on deck. The system has actually realised that there is nothing we can do on our own as an establishment, alone, without carrying other agencies along. So we are going to collaborate with other agencies. 

“ The theme for this year is “Speak out against Reckless Driving”. We also feel that there is nothing we can do without the cooperation of the commuters, because more commuters are killed than drivers. We have many reference points like the incident that happened at Jigàwa, where only one driver caused the death of over 200 people.

we have so many requests on, like this day that happened at Dela, only one driver led to the death of more than 200 people.

“So, Wherever you are, and you are are commuting in a way that the driver is driving recklessly drive his vehicle, it is expected of you to speak up. People say drivers don’t listen. But why don’t you plant the seed first? Just register the fact that you are concerned about your own safety.”

“And for emergency purpose we have our toll-free 123 number, which is going to operate 24 hours. Our response time is 15 minutes.”

Giving durther details in a statement, the FRSC spokesman said the Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, has also directed Commanding Officers to ensure 24 hours observatory along high volume traffic/gridlock prone areas, “full mobilization of 23 Help Areas, adequate utilisation of 59 Emergency Ambulance (Zebra) Points, full mobilization of Road Side (RTC) Clinics, and 24/7 broadcast on National Traffic Radio 107.1 FM.”

Read Also: Why FRSC officials should be allowed to carry arms, by Corps Marshal, others

He said the “Operation Zero Tolerance” has been programmed to run in shifts as follows: 0600hrs – 1400hrs, 1400HRS – 2000hrs, 2000hrs – 2200hrs, and Night Rescue teams on standby at all operational Commands is billed to cover the following critical corridors; Sokoto-Tambuwal-Jega-Birnin Kebbi corridor, Katsina-Kano-Wudil-Dutse-Azare-Potiskum corridor, Kaduna-Saminaka-Jos corridor, Abuja-Kaduna-Kano corridor, Okene-Ogori-Isua-Owo corridor, Makurdi-Otukpo-Obollo Afor-9th Mile corridor, Asaba-Abraka-Ughelli-Warri corridor, Ibadan-Ogere-Sagamu corridor, Sagamu-Mowe-Lagos corridor, amongst others.

He said: “The Corps Marshal emphasised that the enforcement is aimed at checkmating Excessive speed, Overloading, Dangerous Driving/Overtaking, Lane indiscipline/Route violation, Road Obstructions, Use of phone while driving, overloading violation, Seat Belt/Child restraint Use Violations, Passengers’ Manifest Violations, Mechanically Deficient Vehicles, Latching and Twist-Locks Violations. 

“In addition to the foregoing, the Corps Marshal also directed the massive constitution of Mobile Courts across the Nation. The directive also mandates the Commanding Officers to ensure effective collaboration with Military Units, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Directorate of State Services (DSS), NGO Ambulance Service Providers, National Network on Emergency Road Services (NNERS), and the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA).” 

A Magistrate Court sitting in Oye Ekiti, Ekiti State, has sentenced a passenger, Kazeem Abdullahi, to a month in prison for attacking patrol operatives of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

The officers were assaulted while performing their lawful duties along Oye-Ifaki road in Ekiti State.

Abdullahi, with a case file number MOY/15C/2024, was arraigned before Senior Magistrate Salau ME of the Oye Ekiti Magistrate Court on a lone count charge bordering on assault on a law enforcement officer, an offence under Section 187 of the Criminal Law of EKITI State 2021.

According to a statement by FRSC spokesman, Assistant Corps Marshal Olusegun Ogungbemide, said that the Magistrate, while giving his judgment, found the Defendant as guilty as charged.

The statement said: “But in view of the fact that Kazeem is a first-time offender, with dependants; and having also apologized to FRSC, was sentenced to one-month imprisonment or a fine of N5,000 in lieu of imprisonment.

“The offender was charged alongside Alhaji Dauda the 1st defendant who was presumed innocent, thereby discharged and acquitted.

“The matter which occurred on 22 April 2024 was first presented before His Worship on 09 May 2024 when the Defendant pleaded not guilty. The case witnessed other subsequent appearances before it was finally adjourned on 14 October 2024 when the verdict was pronounced.

“The two Defendants, Mr Kazeem Abdullahi who was a passenger, and Alhaji Dauda, the rider of the motorcycle, were stopped at FRSC patrol point when Kazeem became provocative and assaulted the personnel on duty.

Read Also: FRSC to clampdown on fake diplomatic, unauthorised number plates

“The rider who was apprehended for committing the offences of overloading with persons and riding a motorcycle without a helmet, went berserk at the point of arrest, as one of the passengers he carried started assaulting the arresting Marshal in uniform.”

According to the statement, the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Shehu Mohammed, commended the Judiciary for the quick dispensation of justice.

“He noted that this, like other judgments, is an indication and strong warning to perpetrators of such acts, that no member of the public who assaults a public officer on duty, no matter how small, will be spared,” the statement said.

“The Corps Marshal warned the motoring community, particularly the recalcitrant who have made it habitual to attack security agencies to desist from such henceforth, or face the wrath of the law squarely.”

The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Shehu Mohammed, has directed immediate clampdown on fake diplomatic and unauthorised number plates.

He said the order has become necessary due to the proliferation of such number plates, which he said were produced by suspected criminals.

The Corps Marshal issued the directive in a statement by the Corps spokesman, Olusegun Ogungbemide.

According to the statement, the fake and unauthorized number plates include Diplomatic Number plates, NYCN, Peace Ambassador, NAUS, CYMS, UN-UNITY 01 UN-AMB, and NANS.

The statement said: “Pursuant to the growing need to bring the criminal activities to a halt, the Corps Marshal approved immediate commencement of tactical enforcement across all formations of the Corps, to ensure the speedy arrest and impoundment of all vehicles on Nigerian roads with the above identified fake number plates or any other of its kind.

Read Also: 3,767 killed, 22,373 injured in accidents, says FRSC

“By this notice, the public is hereby cautioned that these fake and unauthorized number plates are mostly used for nefarious and criminal activities. Pursuant to the foregoing, members of the public are advised to report anyone using such number plates to law enforcement bodies.

“Members of the public who are presently using such vehicle identifications are by this publication warned to immediately discontinue the use of these fake and unauthorized plates as defaulters will be prosecuted.

“To achieve maximum impact in the aggressive enforcement, the Corps will collaborate with other Security agencies to uncover the sources of the fake number plates for necessary apprehension and prosecution. Owners of such vehicles shall be prosecuted along as accomplices.”

The Federal Government is set to procure helicopters for the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) foe quick evacuation of accident victims.

The helicopters would be procured through Public-Private Partnership arrangements.

Deputy Corps Marshal of FRSC, Oladele Clement, announced this during the FRSC Management Retreat and Press Conference in Abuja on Tuesday.

Oladele, who is in charge of the Corps Policy, Research and Statistics Department, said the Corps was also in talks with some private individuals to partner on the procurement of air ambulances for easy evacuation of crash victims.

He said: “Aside from the new engagement that the new Corps Marshal is making, we have gotten some private individuals that are willing to do Public-Private Partnership with us. 

“We thought it might be longer for us to get our choppers, but from the discussions that are going on, it might be earlier.

“ But it is not just the choppers, it is also to have air ambulances. These air ambulances will be at strategic positions within the coordinates of trauma centres where road crashes normally happen so that we can easily evacuate crash victims.

“These will also be aided with drones as part of technology to advance the cause of the FRSC.”

Read Also: FRSC, TRACE get materials

The Corps’ spokesman, Assistant Corps Marshal Olusegun Ogungbemide, said the corps has broadened the scope of road safety sensitization and advocacy campaigns with more emphasis on the passengers. 

Ogungbemide said this Ember month campaign tagged “Speak up against reckless driving: Crashes kill more Passengers than Drivers” gave power to passengers to know and fight for their rights.

He said the campaign was not only targeted at improving the road transportation sector by changing drivers’ behaviour but also presented Nigeria as a safety-conscious nation before the comity of states. 

The Corpse Marshal of FRSC, Shehu Mohammed, who spoke with journalists shortly after the press conference, emphasized the need for concerted efforts from all quarters to reduce road traffic crashes in the country.

Mohammed said road safety is a shared responsibility among the citizenry due to its effect on individuals regardless of age and status.

He said: “Today, road traffic crash is the number seven cause of death globally, and it is the number one cause of death in youths. Africa has the largest number of youths globally, and so has Nigeria.

” It, therefore, means that if we don’t put our heads together to see that we reduce road traffic crashes to the nearest minimum, we will not have the youths to continue with our achievements as a Nation.”  

Intercontinental Distilleries Limited (IDL) has donated multi-million road traffic control materials to Ogun State Command of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the state’s Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE).

The company’s representative, Head of Operations, Chief Adesina Adegoke, handing over the materials, which included big and safety medium cones, safety fence and no parking reserved sand/water fillable barricades to the agencies in Ota, said the donation was part of the company’s CSR to encourage smooth operations of the traffic management agencies in its jurisdiction.

Read Also: FRSC working to reduce crashes to zero by 2030 – Corps Marshal

He said: “We always ensure traffic safety on roads…’’

Adegoke added even in difficult times, TRACE is dutiful, and this was what propelled our support to them.

Receiving the materials for TRACE Chief Executive Officer, Cdr Olaseni Ogunyemi, Ogun West Area Commander, Cdr. Ajibade Adekunle, thanked IDL for the gesture, saying it was not the first time the company would be doing this.

The Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Shehu Mohammed, says the corps was working assiduously to reduce road crashes in the country to zero in 2030.

Mohammed, who was represented by the Assistant Corps Marshal Yusuf Haruna, Zonal Commanding Officer, FRSC 4 Headquarters, stated this on Thursday at the maiden stakeholders town hall meeting in Makurdi.

The corps marshal said that the corps hoped to achieve the feat through continuous sensitisation of all the stakeholders.

He promised that the corps would not relent in discouraging drivers, both private and commercial, against too much speed, stressing that 90 per cent of crashes were caused by speeding.

Gov. Hyacinth Alia said that the state government had equipped the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH) to tackle emergency and rescue services as well as post-crash care.

“We have begun to put in place measures to ensure that victims of road traffic crashes receive prompt and effective care.

“We equipped the state-owned BSUTH with state-of-the-art facilities with well trained and motivated personnel to man them, exposing personnel in them.

“We will not relent until the same is replicated in all the state-owned hospitals across the length and breadth of the state,” Alia assured.

Read Also: FRSC laments persistent road accidents in Oyo

He further assured that the state government would continue to lend its support to the corps in her efforts to create a safe motoring environment in the area of enforcement to ensure compliance with traffic regulations.

Also, the Corps Commander, Steve Ayodele, lamented that the Ember months in Nigeria were usually characterised by fatalities and crashes as a result of human lawlessness and non-adherence to traffic rules and regulations.

“The town hall meeting today is designed to create awareness and share ideas and operational strategies to mitigate the projected traffic challenges.

In his goodwill message, the Executive Director, 24 Hours Road Accident Support Initiative, Mr Gadaffi Asemanya, commended the corps for proactive initiatives aimed at reducing road crashes. (NAN)