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Tag: FRSC

  • Drunk driving: FRSC arrests 238 offenders

    Drunk driving: FRSC arrests 238 offenders

    Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, the Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), on Wednesday said that 238 drivers were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol between January and September 2017.

    Oyeyemi made the disclosure at the annual “ember’’ months sensitisation programme tagged; “Don’t Drink and Drive” organised by the Nigeria Breweries at the Ojota Motor Park, Lagos State.

    The corps marshal, who was represented by Mr Bisi Kazeem, FRSC Head of Public Education, said that the corps was working assiduously to ensure that there was change of attitude among motorists before, during and after the Yuletide.

    “For this reason, it is not out place to stress that a drunk driver is likely to drive dangerously or commit traffic light violation.

    “These are part of the reasons the operation Cobra Enforcement, under the direct supervision of the corps marshal, focuses on it.

    “So far, the operation has recorded a total of 2,943 offenders who contravened various traffic offences within the first three quarters of the year,” he said.

    According to him, 1,414 drivers arrested during the Cobra Enforcement Operation were referred for emotional and psychological evaluation in government hospitals.

    Oyeyemi commended Nigerian Breweries for its sponsorship of the “ember’’ months campaign and its support to the FRSC in educating and sensitising motorists.

    The corps marshal said that the programme was organised to discourage drivers from consuming alcohol before driving.

    Also, Mr Hyginus Omeje, FRSC Lagos State Sector Commander, commended Nigerian Breweries for supporting the corps in tackling the phenomenon of driving under the influence of alcohol.

    “This year’s campaign marks the 10th edition of the Don’t Drink and Drive campaign being sponsored by Nigerian Breweries as part of the company’s corporate social responsibility to the consumers.

    “As we officially flag off this “ember’’ months road safety sensitisation campaign, I charge each and every one to redirect our mind set towards good road use by obeying all rules and regulations as it affects our lives,” he said.

    In a message to the occasion, Mr Johan Doyer, the Managing Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc, said that the Don’t drink don’t drive campaign was to discourage driving under the influence of alcohol and improve safety on the roads.

    Doyer, who was represented by Mr Kufre Ekanem, Head of Corporate Affairs, Nigerian Breweries, said that the initiative was part of the company’s advocacy of responsible consumption of alcohol.

    He said that the advocacy was part of its sustainability agenda “Brewing a Better World”.

    Dover said that objective was the improvement of road safety awareness for all commercial drivers and draw attention to alcohol related accidents as a result of drink driving.

    Mr Tajuden Agbede, the Chairman, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Lagos State branch, commended Nigeria Breweries for sponsoring don’t drink and drive campaign.

    Agbede said that the union on weekly basis organised enlightenment programmes for its members to caution drivers on the danger of driving under the influence of alcohol.

    He advised motorists to obey the traffic rules and regulations during and after the Yuletide to prevent accidents on the highways.

  • 30-yr-old trucks in use on Nigerian roads, says FRSC

    30-yr-old trucks in use on Nigerian roads, says FRSC

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) yesterday decried the poor conditions of the trucks on the highways across the country.

    The agency noted that some of the trucks that ply the highways are more than 30 years old.

    This, it said, has contributed to their frequent break down and obstruction of highways.

    To address the poor state of the fleet, the FRSC and Nigeria Shippers Council signed an MoU on ‘Road Transport Safety Standardisation Scheme.

    The MoU, which is expected to set a standard for the operation of fleet across the country, would also assist in data collection of truck drivers and owners.

    This was disclosed in Abuja when the MoU was signed by both agencies.

    Speaking on the importance of the scheme, the FRSC Corp Marshal, Boboye Oyeyemi said: “We will partner with them to ensure that the parks they want to construct are appropriately located.

    “The Scheme provides for all the truck owners to register with the corps and it will make us have a joint database.

    “With that, we should be able to tell the country how many trucks we have for planning and economic purposes.”

    On the poor state of the trucks, Oyeyemi said: “We should also be able to tell the state of these vehicles in order to encourage government to work on re-fleeting, because most of these trucks on the highways are over 30 years, and that is why we experience frequent breakdowns, especially in areas where the roads are bad.

    “We need to tell government the actual number of trucks available and their lifespan in order for government to assist in the re-fleeting, maybe through the Bank of Industry or through any other means.

    “Truck owners are really in dire need of a life-saving intervention in terms of re-fleeting.

    “We are battling with old trucks and there is an urgent need to really address this.”

    The Corps Marshal also noted that the implementation of the scheme, which he said would be immediate, would carry stakeholders in the transport sector along.

    “The implication is that all truck owners must now comply with the Road Transport Safety Standardisation Scheme.

    Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of NSC, Hassan Bello, said the scheme, when implemented would boost the economy of the country and help in decongesting the roads.

    He also said the initiative would ensure quick delivery and distribution of goods, adding that the first set of parks would be located in Enugu and Kogi states.

    He said: “We are concerned just like the FRSC about free movement of goods, the delivery of goods, good transport infrastructure.

    “As you know, 90 per cent of the goods that come into Nigeria are distributed by road, so it is important we have not only the good road as an infrastructure, we should have supporting facilities like the Truck Transit Parks to ensure smooth delivery.”

  • Troops arrest ‘smugglers’, recover arms

    Troops arrest ‘smugglers’, recover arms

    The 81 Division of the Nigerian Army (NA) Wednesday said troops attached to Exercise CROCODILE SMILE II have arrested suspected smugglers, drug peddlers and recovered small arms.

    The army said the suspected smugglers were arrested during a raid in conjuction with the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) on October 18 and 19, adding that over 100 bags of rice, other contraband were seized.

    According to a statement by the division’s spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Olaolu Daudu, troops of Sector 7  with NCS personnel about 5:25pm on October 18, raided smugglers’ hideout at Idiroko- Ipokia and seized 21 bags of rice.

    On October 19, Daudu said a similar operation was carried out around 3am at Gberefu Island by troops of Sector 5, adding that hundreds of bags of rice, cartons of frozen turkey were also seized.

    He said all seized items were handed over to NCS for further action.

    He claimed that the exercise had continued to thwart oil bunkering, armed robbery, kidnapping, smugglers, drug peddlers and other criminal elements within Lagos and Ogun States.

    Continuing, Daudu said an alleged bugler identified as Emmanual was arrested at Ibafo with a suspected stolen mobile phone and handed over to the police division there.

    He said a suspected Marijuana dealer; Adlbdulazeez Akim was arrested at about 12am at Ibafo, while transacting business with some hoodlums, adding that an alleged impostor Paul Ishaya, was arrested at Alaba-Rago by soldiers.

    “On October 19, by 8:25am, troops of Sector 8 while on patrol along Mikky Bus Stop rescued a suspected thief from a mob. The suspect was alleged to have stolen food items and was almost killed. He was rescued and handed over to personnel of SARS Ogijo Division.

    “On the same day, at about 3:35am, following a tip off, troops of Sub Sector 1 at Gbaji in conjunction with men of NDLEA carried out a raid at Sango-Seme and apprehended five drug peddlers with substances suspected to be Cocaine and Marijuana. Arrested suspects and items have been handed over to personnel of NDLEA for further investigation.

    “Also on October 19, between 3pm- 5:20pm, troops of Sector 3 in conjunction with FRSC, DSS and NSCDC conducted a route clearance operation along Benson Bus Stop, Agric Junction and Ikorodu Roundabout. Operation was targeted at clearing criminal hideouts, miscreants, pickpockets and traffic control obstructions.

    “Fourty-two motorcycles and three vehicles were impounded and handed over to FRSC Ikorodu Command. Similarly on October 19, troops of Sector 4 conducted raid and road block operations at Mile 12 and Ojota. Nineteen suspected hoodlums were arrested. Suspects have been handed over to Lagos State Special Task Force, Oshodi…”

    Daudu said 12 suspected drug peddlers were arrested oj October 22, around 7:35pm at Badagry Fiber Market and Marina.

    However, a Lagos resident, Kolawole Olasupo Wednesday accused the operatives of using hoodlums to extort commercial vehicles of N100.

    Olasupo, who took to social media to vent his anger, wrote: “But, this is too bad, nothing but bad. Operation python dance of Lagos is becoming python crying.  At 11:15pm from Lagos Abeokuta Tollgate to Alakuko Bus Stop, Nigerian Army dance whatever (sic) has compounded our suffering, creating serious problem because of N100 from commercial buses.

    “The Army authority should help us out of this mess and its daily occurrence. Army for that matter using an area boy to collect money on their behalf. Na wa ooo!”

    According to a statement released by the Division’s spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Olaolu Daudu, troops of Sector 4 in collaboration with operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), arrested five hoodlums at Oshodi and Isolo on October 17, who were handed over to Lagos State Taskforce.

    He said: “The sustained collaborative patrols, clearance and raids with relevant security and paramilitary agencies especially on identified hotspots and criminal hideouts is effectively denying criminals freedom of action. Several arrests have been made and items including small arm recovered.

  • FRSC absolves demons of blame in road accidents

    FRSC absolves demons of blame in road accidents

    The Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, has absolved demons of responsibility for the high rate of road traffic accidents during ember months.

    Oyeyemi spoke at the launch of the 10th edition of the “Don’t Drink and Drive’’ campaign of the Nigerian Breweries (NB) in collaboration with the FRSC in Abuja on Wednesday.

    Represented by the Corps Public Education Officer, Mr Bisi Kazeem, the FRSC boss blamed the situation on recklessness and irresponsible acts of motorists and other road users.

    “The Ember Months being a period of festivities, people are wont to get drunk on a daily basis in the name of celebration.

    “Nigerians must be aware that frequent cases of road crashes during this period, particularly the ember months are unconnected to demonic activities.

    “This campaign, therefore, is a timely reminder that drinking and driving do not only pose threat to the life of the drunk driver, but also to the lives and property of other of all road users.

    “Such are still a threat to the state of road infrastructure which costs a lot of resources to produce and mount on the highways and city centres,’’

    Oyeyemi recalled that 31 accidents involving 122 people were recorded during the 2016 ember month, leaving five persons dead and 53 injured.

    He said driving under the influence of alcohol and other drugs was largely responsible for the recorded cases of accidents.

    This, according to him, underscores the fact that a drunk driver is more likely to drive dangerously or involve in other life-threatening road traffic violations.

    The FRSC helmsman lauded the NB for placing the safety of lives and property of its customers above profit with the “Don’t Drink and Drive’’ campaign.

    The Managing Director of NB, Mr Johan Doyer, said the campaign was an annual awareness creation and life-saving initiative, designed to promote responsible drinking among drivers and other road users.

    Doyer, who was represented by the NB Head of Government Relations, Mr Vivian Ikem, said the programme has been running since 2008.

    According to him, it was part of the company’s “Brewing a Better World” sustainability journey.

    “For our road users, most especially our commercial drivers (tanker, luxury bus drivers and Keke and Okada riders), we want to encourage you to drink responsibly as the lives of the passengers are in your hands.

    “One mistake on the wheel can take the lives of so many people.

    “Our message is clear and simple: don’t drive and drive.

    “If there is an organisation that is properly positioned to send this message, I think it is the Nigerian Breweries because we are more concerned about the lives of our fellow Nigerians than the money and profits that come to us an organisation.”

    The NB chief executive commended the FRSC for its sustained commitment to the reduction of road traffic accidents and deaths as well as the success of the “Don’t Drink and Drive” campaign.

    Some transport union leaders, present at the occasion, promised to pass the message to their members as well as institute their own measures to prevent drunk driving.

  • FRSC to school owners: establish road safety clubs in schools

    Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Ota Unit Commander Adekunle Oguntoyinbo has urged school owners to establish road safety clubs to enable the pupils have adequate safety knowledge.

    He gave the advice at the grand finale of the safety quiz competition organised by the Command for schools in the Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area, Ogun State. He said the clubs would teach the pupils road safety.

    He said: “There is the need for pupils to imbibe the safety tenets and culture against the bad road usage to save lives and property.’’

    Oguntoyinbo said the contest was aimed at educating and enlightening parents through these road safety club members to achieve the agency’s corporate strategic goals in Ota and its environs.

    He said FRSC as the lead agency in road safety management in the country decided to reach out to the youth as part of the agency’s efforts to catch them young and ensure they embraced safety culture.

    The participating schools were Crescent Schools, Rock Foundation, Oasis Schools, The Bells Secondary School, Anointed Kiddies College, De-Dynamic Schools, D-Ivy College and The Ambassador College.

    The D-Ivy College came first, followed by Anointed Kiddies College and while the third position went to The Ambassador College.

     

  • UPP, APDA call for fair play in Anambra election

    UPP, APDA call for fair play in Anambra election

    Dr Sylvster Igwilo, Chairman of United Progressives Party ( UPP ) in Anambra said that the party was confident of winning the Nov. 18 governorship election in the state if every stakeholder play by the rules.

    Igwilo made this known in Awka on Sunday that the party’s candidate, Chief Osita Chidoka was the most qualified from the array of candidates in the race.

    He said Chidoka had better plans for the people of the state and have been addressing issues that bordered on the common man in his campaigns.

    Igwilo warned other parties to comply with the efforts aimed at minimising irregularities during and after the Nov. 18 governorship election.

    “My party is quite prepared for this election, we know it is not going to be easy and as you know, UPP has the most credible candidates among all others in the race.

    “Chidoka is well known and accepted by the people, a former Minister and FRSC Corps Marshal who is interested in the state and how to put back on track economic prosperity and sustainable development.’’

    Igwilo said the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) was doing well compared to the previous years in terms of preparation for elections.

    According to him, if things are to go by the assurances INEC has given, then the election would be free and fair.

    “My appeal is that other party chairmen should play by the rules, their agents should be properly identified with passport to enable us know who is who.

    “There are some people that are not serious about this election. they are just interested in what they will get through sharp practices,” he said.

    Also speaking, Mrs Adaeze Okafor, candidate of the Advanced People Democratic Alliance ( APDA ) raised alarm at what she described as increasing monetary cost of the election.

    Okafor said it was as if the election was a do-or-die affairs from the way some candidates of the big parties were going about in their campaigns.

    According to her, candidates and their supporters should see election as opportunity to serve and not avenues for amassing wealth.

    She noted that some of the issues raised in the campaigns so far had not addressed the wellbeing of the ordinary people of Anambra but an attack on persons.

    “Issues are not addressed in the campaigns, they have not said how they are going to build the people and make their lives better.

    “The role of money in this election is becoming too much, some parties have set a lot of money aside to pay for votes.

    “Other candidates are throwing money around in the market places as if their lives depend on the election.’’

    She called on the INEC to restrict people from going close to the electorate during voting and to stop votes buying.

    NAN

  • FRSC suggests holding bays as permanent solutions to Apapa gridlock

    FRSC suggests holding bays as permanent solutions to Apapa gridlock

    The Lagos State Sector Command, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says a permanent solution to the Apapa gridlock is the establishment of holding bays to accommodate trucks and articulated vehicles before loading.

    The Sector Commander, Mr Hyginus Omeje, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos, added that this would put an end to the perennial gridlock.

    He said that all owners of tank farms should provide facilities that would accommodate trucks coming into their facilities to load.

    “I think the traffic congestion problem in Apapa will be solved permanently if holding bays can be established to take trucks coming in to load.

    “The stakeholders with owners of tank farms should begin to pay attention to having a holding bay that can contain some trucks before being called in to load,’’ he said.

    Omeje said that government was trying to address the issue by bringing private investors to put up the facilities for the benefit of the residents.

    He said that this was a fundamental issue that was needed to allow free flow of traffic within the corridor.

    “We can have the private sectors coming up with the parks that some of the trucks can easily move in and wait for loading instead of parking along the streets in Apapa, thereby causing traffic.

    “Through the process, the next truck to load in the tank farm will be called through electronic call-up system. This method will reduce the gridlock,’’ he said.

    According to Omeje, the FRSC has partnered the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to inspect all trucks coming into the port for business.

    “We have had various meetings with the stakeholders, registered operators and NPA and we told them that it will not be business as usual if their trucks are not roadworthy.

    “Beside that, some of the articulated vehicles are overloaded, thereby causing traffic along the road.

    “We want to ensure that our road transport safety standard schemes are implemented at the ports for every truck coming in to load,‘’ he said. (NAN)

  • FRSC commences operation “Show your licence’’ in Lagos

    FRSC commences operation “Show your licence’’ in Lagos

    The Lagos State Sector Command, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says it has commenced operation “Show Your Licence’’ across the state to arrest drivers without valid licence and curb road crashes.

    Mr Hyginus Omeje, the State Sector commander, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Thursday.

    “The state command, this week, inaugurated operation ‘Show your License’ campaign across the state to arrest motorists who had no valid driving license.

    “We are doing this as part of our ember month programmes to sensitise drivers on the need to possess valid licences before driving,’’ he said.

    Omeje said that the state command recorded 57 road crashes in the third quarter of 2017, adding that the development showed a decrease of 46.2 per cent, compared to the same period in 2016.

    Read Also: FRSC arrests 350 unlicenced drivers in Plateau

    According to him, there are 55, 802 unclaimed licences in the sector command due to the failure of many drivers to claim such documents.

    Omeje noted that enforcement of speed limiters had brought tremendous reduction in road accident across the state.

    The sector commander, who said all commercial fleet operators must to install the speed limit device in their vehicles, noted that compliance level had reached 33.1 per cent in the state.

    Omeje said that personnel of the command, on patrol, stopped 6, 007 vehicles in the last three months, adding that out of the number, 1, 993 vehicles had had the device installed.

    According to him, 4,014 vehicles without the device and others motorists are booked.

    According to him, another 192 motorists were cautioned while seven motorists were charged to court for allegedly failing to install speed limiter.

    Omeje also said that there was plan to equip all the patrol vehicles in the state with breathalyzers to detect motorists, especially the commercial ones driving under the influence of alcohol.

     

  • Reps urge FG to procure arms for FRSC

    Reps urge FG to procure arms for FRSC

    Members of the House of Representatives on Wednesday said that in a bid to effectively carry out their responsibilities of saving lives, officials of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) should bear arms.

    The Green Chamber noted the increasing cases of violent attacks, harassment and intimidation of personnel and offices of the FRSC by highly placed individuals, motorists and hoodlums across the country, particularly in Zamfara, Jigawa, Abia and the Lagos States.

    The members noted that from 2015 to date, there have been 149 cases of attacks on personnel and 201 cases of damage to properties and equipment of the Commission.

    They, therefore, urged the Federal Government to facilitate the procurement of arms and ammunition for officers of the FRSC.

    The resolution of the House was sequel to the passage of a motion by Hon. Solomon Maren titled: “Need to Curb Incessant Attacks on Personnel of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC)”.

    Maren while moving the motion noted that despite Section 19 of the FRSC (Establishment) Act, 2007 which stipulates that personnel of the Commission who are exposed to high risk in the enforcement of the provisions of this Act, shall have same powers, authorities and privileges, including power to bear arms, as are granted by law to members of the Nigeria Police Force, the Federal Government has not provided Road Safety officers with arms to enable them protect themselves in the course of performing their duties.

    He expressed concern that the United Nation’s Declaration on Reduction of Road Accidents by fifty (50) percent by year 2020 may not be achieved by Nigeria if the attacks are not urgently curbed.

    The lawmaker said in order to avoid the attacks, Road Safety officers stay off the roads, particularly at night and that motorists are taking advantage of the situation to breach traffic regulations, which often lead to accidents.

    “Officers sometimes discover offensive weapons in vehicles during routine operations on highways but are incapable of challenging occupants of such vehicles as they lack the capacity to protect themselves from any attack that could arise,” he said.

    When he Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara called for a vote on the motion, it was passed without dissent.

    The House subsequently mandated the Committee on Federal Road Safety Commission to investigate cases of attacks on personnel of the FRSC and also ensure implementation of the resolution to armed the officials.

    The committee is to report back within four weeks for further legislative action.

  • Police rescue kidnapped FRSC officer

    Police rescue kidnapped FRSC officer

    The Zamfara State Police Command has rescued a personnel of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Muhammad B-Kudu, kidnapped recently by unidentified gunmen at Tsafe Unit Command of the FRSC in the state.

    The unidentified gunmen had on Sept. 21 invaded the Tsafe Unit Command of the FRSC in Tsafe Local Government Area of the state killing one officer, Hamza Mubarak and kidnapping the rescued victim.

    The state Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Shaba Alkali,  said in Gusau on Monday, that since the abduction, the command did not relent until the safe rescue of the FRSC officer.

    He said the officer was rescued on Sunday by a team of mobile policemen at Dandindin Village in Maru Local Government Area of the state.

    Alkali said that though the gunmen escaped into the forest during the rescue operation, the command would continue to comb the area until all the criminals are arrested and brought to book.

    “The FRSC officer was successfully rescued and brought to police headquarters, where he was formally handed over to the state FRSC Acting-Sector Commander,” the CP said.

    He thanked members of the public for their support in giving relevant information that led to the dislodgement of criminals in the state. (NAN)