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Tag: FRSC

  • Lagos-Ibadan Expressway: exercise patience, FRSC urges motorists

    The Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Commission ( FRSC ) in Ogun, Clement Oladele, on Thursday, advised motorists plying Lagos -Ibadan Expressway to exercise patience and drive cautiously, especially within construction areas.

    Oladele disclosed this in a statement signed by the FRSC Public Education Officer in the state, Florence Okpe, and made available to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abeokuta.

    The sector commander warned motorists to avoid driving against traffic, as violators were liable to be prosecuted.

    He noted that the FRSC was working in concert with the construction company, Julius Berger Nigeria PLC, on introducing additional measures to cushion the hardship motorists were facing as a result of the construction efforts.

    Oladele said that the FRSC had been encouraging the construction company to speed up rehabilitation work and also open up areas that had been fairly completed for public use.

    Read Also: FRSC confirms two dead in Bauchi tanker explosion

    “Motorists are enjoined to cooperate with the FRSC and sister traffic agencies in ensuring free flow of traffic while driving along the road corridor and other corridors in the country.

    “The expressway has witnessed sporadic gridlocks this week due to incessant infractions occasioned by frequent breakdown of majorly articulated vehicles, which is compounded by the ongoing rehabilitation of the corridor.

    ” This has narrowed the lanes available on the expressway, especially between Magboro /Ibafo axis to the Mowe sections of the road.

    “Commuter activities along the corridor have also affected motorisation, coupled with traffic indiscipline by some reckless drivers that take advantage of gridlocks to attempt driving against traffic.

    “The FRSC wishes to inform the motoring public that the past few days have been characterised with infractions that distorted the free flow of traffic,” he said.

    Oladele said that the command would continue to ensure free flow of traffic on the expressway.

  • FRSC confirms two dead in Bauchi tanker explosion

    The Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, in Bauchi State on Tuesday confirmed the death of two persons in a road crash involving an articulated fuel tanker and a Toyota Hilux truck along Bauchi-Jos expressway.

    The incident occurred two days after a ghastly motor accident claimed 13 lives and injured 6 on Sunday along Bauchi-Gombe road.

    The spokesperson of the  Federal Road Safety Corps, Bauchi Sector Command,  Rilwan Sulaiman, who confirmed the incident told the Nation that the tanker which was conveying diesel had a brake failure, as a result, the driver lost control and rammed into the truck before exploding.

    He said two persons were burnt beyond recognition in the process while three others sustained serious injuries.

    He added that the injured persons were rushed to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital for treatment.

    Read also: Four injured, motorcycles burnt in Ekiti tanker accident

    Rilwanu said “the accident occurred at Tashan Durum between a Fuel Tanker with registration number; BSA-664-XA and a government Toyota Hilux with number plate; FG-632-A15. Very unfortunate, the diesel tanker lost control and rammed into the bus and exploded. Two people were burnt beyond recognition. Another three persons were rushed to the hospital”.

    He said sequel to the series of accident along the Bauchi-Jos expressway, the command has embarked on aggressive public enlightenment on how to reduce avoidable road crash among motorists.

    Rilwan, therefore, warned motorist to heed to the Corps’ advice on road safety.

    “Our people need more education on the rules and regulations of roads. If you look at the cause of today’s incident was mechanical failure. Has proper precaution been taken it wouldn’t have resulted to that”, he said.

  • 4 feared dead, 8 injured in Anambra auto crash

    Four persons were feared dead and eight others sustained injuries in a multiple accident along Enugu-Onitsha expressway, Awka, Anambra state on Wednesday.

    The accident, involving an articulated tanker and a Mercedes Benz 608 bus, occurred at about 2am at the Immigration junction, Agu-Awka.

    The Nation gathered the articulated vehicle, loaded with fuel was coming from the Onitsha axis when it suddenly lost control following a brake failure.

    It was also learnt the truck while descending the slope rammed into the bus loaded with yam tubers from the opposite direction.

    “The truck ran into the bus because of the inability of the bus driver to speed off.

    “I suspect that it developed some fault before it got there,” a man who claimed to have witnessed the accident said.

    When our reporter visited the scene of the accident, one of the occupants of the bus was still trapped in the vehicle while men of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Police, Fire Service and Civil defence were on ground to control traffic.

    Confirming the incident, Staff Officer to the Sector Commander, FRSC, Ejem Ufiem, said two persons trapped in the vehicle died instantly while two others were taken to hospital for medical attention.

    He said: “The crash scene has been cordoned off, while operatives of the NPF, FRSC and NSCDC are combining efforts to control traffic.

    “The Anambra State Fire Service is also on ground, cooling the tanker occasionally to prevent explosion.

    “Efforts are being made to transload the fuel to another tanker while awaiting FRSC Asaba tow truck to remove the tanker off the road.”

    He advised motorists plying on the Enugu/Onitsha expressway to be careful and cooperate with traffic officers on duty.

  • Two dead, others injured in Anambra auto crash

    Two persons died and two others were injured in an accident involving a petrol-laden tanker and a Mercedes Benz Bus at Agu-Awka Junction, Awka, Anambra.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent who visited the scene of the crash gathered that the tanker which was Enugu-bound ran into the bus loaded with food items.

    The bus was trying to join the Expressway from the junction leading to Old road.

    The accident occurred at about 1.10 a.m. on Wednesday.

    A combined team of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and Fire Service personnel was seen cordoning off the area, diverting traffic and ensuring that fire did not inflame again.

    Mr Andrew Kumapayi, Sector Commander of the FRSC told NAN that his team arrived the crash scene 10 minutes after the incident was reported for rescue.

    Kumapayi said four persons were involved including three males and one female.

    He blamed the crash on speed violation and loss of control.

    “About 1.15 a.m. this morning, we got a report of a crash involving a petrol tanker marked YLA 170 XM with product and a Mercedes Benz bus with Reg. No: BKL 80 XA at Immigration Junction, Agu Awka.

    “Four persons were involved; two died on the spot and two including a man and a woman have been taken to Chukwuemeka Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital for medical attention,’’ he said.

    Kumapayi called on drivers and owners of articulated vehicles plying the Anambra route to maintain their vehicles and observe traffic rules and regulations at all times.

    He warned that his command would not fold its arms and watch motorists waste the lives and property of innocent citizens on the highway

    NAN reports that the sector commander alongside other stakeholders in traffic management held a town hall meeting with truck drivers in Onitsha on Monday on ways to curb carnage.

    The command had decided to commence strict enforcement of articulated vehicle driver’s compliance with rules in the state from April.

  • Exercise caution on Lagos-Abeokuta highway, FRSC urges motorists

    Mr. Clement Oladele, the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in Ogun on Monday urged motorists plying the Lagos-Abeokuta expressway to exercise caution.

    He spoke against the background of complaints by motorists on the slow pace of the rehabilitation work on the highway and the consequent traffic snarl.

    Oladele, who noted that the challenge on the road would end with its rehabilitation, said the command could only interface with the construction firm to complete the project on schedule.

    “With the ongoing rehabilitation, there is now hope that when the project is completed, the hiccups associated with using the corridor would soon fizzle out as soon as the project is delivered.

    “On our part, the FRSC will continue to interface with the construction firm to provide adequate signage that conforms to the relevant UN conventions which Nigeria recently acceded to for purpose of highway safety,” he said.

    Motorists plying the Lagos-Abeokuta expressway have expressed concern over the slow pace of work by the construction company handling the project.

    The motorists, in separate interviews with NAN, on Monday in Abeokuta particularly complained that the construction company was using dividers to block a major part of the Owode-Ijako end of the road, resulting in traffic snarl.

    READ ALSO: Overloading: FRSC goes tough on offenders

    Abeeb Ahmed, a commercial driver, said the pace of work was slow and had caused motorists and residents untold hardship.

    “We usually spend hours on this particular axis of the road; for example, this morning, we have already spent almost 50 minutes on a stretch of a journey that is supposed to take between five to 10 minutes.

    “I urge the Federal Government to monitor the activities of the construction company continuously and also give them an ultimatum which it must not fail to meet,” he said.

    Another motorist, Femi George, said there was need for proper monitoring of the state of work done so far, adding that the current tempo was not encouraging.

    “I think the rain that fell over the weekend resulted in this morning’s heavy traffic;  however, I want to beg the construction company to develop another approach that will hasten the  job in order to reduce the sufferings  of commuters and motorists,” he said.

    Patrick Jones, a resident of Owode, said the Owode /Ijako axis of the expressway was becoming a nightmare to travelers using the route.

    “I spent over four hours from Onihale to Tipper garage about two weeks ago.

    “The pace at which Julius Berger is working on both sides of the road is slow,’’ he said.

    NAN reports that the Federal Executive Council had on April 12, 2018 approved the revised contract for the construction of the Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta Expressway to the tune of N56.70 billion.

    The project is being handled by Julius Berger Nigeria Plc.

  • Overloading: FRSC goes tough on offenders

    The Corps Marshal, FRSC, Mr. Boboye Oyeyemi, says the commission will not rest on its oars until the campaign against vehicle overloading is achieved.

    The corps marshal said this at a strategy session with commanding officers in Abuja on Saturday.

    Oyeyemi described overloading of vehicles as a monster, adding that it was his greatest headache.

    He explained that such goods were usually transported with buses whereas they were to be taken by trucks.

    “I don’t know why buses are being excessively loaded like that,” he said.

    He said that the trend must be tamed to ensure safety of lives and property.

    On recruitment, the corps marshal noted that the training for new officers was ongoing with internship to commence on April 7.

    READ ALSO: FRSC advises passengers to caution reckless drivers

    He disclosed that the 2018 promotion would begin on March 24 for officers and marshals.

    “For officers within the rank of Assistant Corps Marshals to Deputy Corps Commanders, the exercise will commence on Monday, March 25.”

    He said the corps would from next quarter; establish 12 unit commands and 10 outposts at critical corridors.

    “We have gotten support of various Local Governments.

    “There are some of the units where we will reinforce the areas because recent pattern of the road traffic crashes is changing especially in the north-west.”

    He further said that FRSC would set up more formations on the highways to improve on the level of patrol operations.

    Oyeyemi said that following the expiration of the Nigeria Road Safety Strategy (NRSS) 2014 to 2018, the second edition of the document for 2019 to 2020 has reached an advance stage.

    The NRSS is a medium term plan for road safety management in Nigeria.

    NAN

  • 7 die as truck plunged into river in Kogi

    Seven people on Tuesday lost their lives as a truck in which they were travelling plunged into a river at Kotonkarfe Community on Lokoja-Abuja Highway.

    Mr Emmanuel Abe, Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Kogi, confirmed the incident in Lokoja.

    Abe, while confirming the report, said that the truck plunged into Enyogi River, a tribute of River Niger at about 5.00a.m.

    READ ALSO: Two feared dead in Kogi East, as violence erupts

    He said 37 people were involved in the accident, adding that many others sustained various degrees of injury.

    According to him, both the injured and dead were taken to the Federal Medical Centre and the Kogi State Specialist Hospital, both in Lokoja.

    Abe said that speeding was the immediate cause of the accident, appealing to motorists to abide by the speed limit rule.

    NAN

  • Eat well, FRSC advises drivers

    The Itori Unit Commander of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Sunday Oko, has advised drivers to eat good foods that would boost their immune system, energy and improve their fitness for driving.

    According to him, too much alcohol and hard substances, apart from killing the body cells, heart and liver, also reduces energy, sight and common sense to drive or work harder.

    Oko made the plea at an early morning safety campaign at Itori Motor Garage, on the Abeokuta Expressway, Ogun State. He was concerned with the alcohol consumption level of drivers of commercial and articulated vehicles, especially driving under the influence of alcohol and hard drugs instead of eating good food.

    According to him, driving requires full concentration, and any driver who had been intoxicated cannot have full concentration, good reasoning and will definitely have poor sight.

    He noted that this had been a major threat to other road users as it increases the risk of crashes.

     

     

  • Truck crushes three to death in Ogun

    Three persons were on Wednesday evening killed in an accident involving a truck loaded with granite, around Talabi village, inbound Abeokuta on the Abeokuta /Sagamu Expressway.

    Mr Babatunde Akinbiyi, the Spokesman for Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abeokuta on Thursday.

    Akinbiyi explained that the accident which occurred in the evening, involved a Honda car marked NPK 186 PM, Toyota Corolla marked FST 04 ER and a truck with registration number KJA 931 XH.

    “The Honda car inbound Sagamu had tyre burst, lost control and veered to the other side of the road, hitting the oncoming Toyota Corolla inbound Abeokuta .

    “However, the truck that was behind the Toyota car in an attempt to avoid hitting other vehicles from behind veered into the bush and in the process hit three onlookers who were standing by the roadside, killing them on the spot.

    Read Also: Dapo Abiodun woos voters in Ogun Central

    “Six people were involved in the accident, three male adults and three female adults. Three persons were killed while three others were injured,’’ he said.

    Akinbiyi noted that the accident vehicles were taken to Ibara Divisional Police Office, while the driver of the truck had also been arrested.

    He said that the injured were taken to Federal Medical Centre (FMC), while the corpses of the deceased had been deposited at the General Hospital, Ijaye in Abeokuta.

    Reacting to the accident, Mr Clement Oladele, the state Sector Commander, urged motorists to obey advice given to them by its rescue team in order to avoid unnecessary loss of lives.

    Oladele told NAN in Ota, Ogun that the truck driver had earlier been flagged down by the rescue operation’s team.

    The sector commander said that the advice became necessary for the motoring public because such an accident scene could be dangerous and sometime could lead to other accidents if necessary prevention was not taken.

    According to him, the team was trying to rescue victims from a fatal accident while this speeding truck was flagged down but refused to stop and rammed into the accident victims.

    “The incident was unfortunate and FRSC condoles with the families of the victims.

    “I pray that the Lord will grant the families the fortitude to bear the loss and grant the deceased eternal rest,’’ Oladele said.

    He said that legal proceedings would commence against the reckless driver.

    Oladele, however, warned motorists to desist from disobeying rescue operation team’s advice in order not to face the wrath of the laws.

  • 682 die, 3, 953 injuries in December crashes, says FRSC

    A total of 682 persons died, while 3, 953 others were injured in 1, 107 road accidents across the country in December, 2018, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has said.

    The agency made the fact known in its monthly Road Traffic Crash (RTC) Report signed by the Corps Marshal, Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, and released yesterday in Abuja.

    The figures indicated an increase of 47 per cent and 49 per cent in crashes and fatality cases compared to those of November of the same year.

    It said Kaduna had the highest number of crashes and fatality cases in December with 98 cases of accidents which led to 102 deaths.

    “This was followed by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with 89 cases.

    “Ogun, Nasarawa, Ondo and Jigawa also recorded relatively high fatalities with 66, 58, 54 and 50 cases each,” it stated.

    Analysis based on crash-prone routes identified Lagos-Ibadan road as the route with the highest occurrence of road crashes in the month with 64 cases.

    “Kaduna-Abuja road followed with 63 cases and Abuja-Lokoja road recorded 53 cases,’’ the report revealed.

    It identified Kaduna-Abuja road as the most prevalent crash route in cases of fatality with 67 deaths recorded.

    This was followed by Lagos-Ibadan road with 24 deaths; Abuja-Lokoja had 22, Kaduna-Zaria, 20, and Gbongan-Ibadan road, 19, deaths.

    The report revealed that speed violation accounted for 589 cases representing 53.6 per cent of the total road accidents in the month.

    It also said that 59 per cent of all the vehicles involved in crashes during the period were commercial vehicles.

    It said: “40 per cent were private, while government vehicles accounted for one per cent.

    “Out of the total of 1, 728 vehicles involved in road crashes in December, cars accounted for 575 representing 33.3 per cent.

    “Motorcycles, mini buses and trucks followed with 377, 286 and 190 representing 21.8, 16.6 and 9 per cent.”

    The report said the increase realised in the fatality parameters in the month under was as a result of rapid increase in vehicular movement.

    It also said that the increase in the parameter was with its attendant increase in traffic infractions.

    “The tendency for drivers to violate traffic rules and regulations was alarmingly high during the period as most drivers involved in over speeding and overloading, among others. “

    The agency appealed to the Federal Government to provide adequate funding for the Corp’s enlightenment activities to enhance its visibility in line with “FRSC 2019 Corporate Strategic Goals”.