The Nation Newspaper

Tag: FRSC

  • FRSC lauds Ambode, firm for donating patrol vehicles, power bikes

    The Lagos State Sector Commander of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Hyginus Omeje has praised Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for making the safety of Lagosians a priority to his administration.

    He said Ambode had been supporting the FRSC since he assumed office.

    Omeje also hailed other stakeholders for their collaboration throughout the last year.

    He said the Command, ahead of last year’s ember period, received a donation of three Toyota Hillux pickup for patrol from the Lagos State Government, three power bikes from Agbami Co-Venturers and 10 Peugeot 301 patrol cars from the FRSC Headquarters.

    The donations, Omeje noted, as well as the rigorous sensitisation and awareness campaigns on the implementation of speed limiting devices and tyre safety, helped the Command to record low incidents of crashes during the season.

    He spoke at the Foursquare Church, Ogba, Lagos when he led other officers to the church for road safety campaigns and 29 years anniversary of the Corps.

    Omeje said the thanksgiving was imperative for the staff of the Corps as God had been faithful to them by guarding and protecting them on the road.

    According to him, most of their time was spent on the road both day and night but God protected them and the families they left at home.

    He appealed to commercial vehicle owners to cooperate with the Corps by installing speed limiters in their vehicles.

    Omeje urged road users to consider safety precautions while on the road, and encouraged his officers to continue abstain from all forms of indiscipline.

     

  • IT firm to launch Apps for “Okada“ riders

    Cleveland International, an IT firm, says it is set to launch two Apps for Amalgamated Commercial Tricycle and Motorcycle Owners, Repairers and Riders Association of Nigeria (ACOMORAN) for security purpose.

    Mr Emeka Ejiro, the company’s representative, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.

    He said that the company was working on two Apps, which are for numeration and for security agencies to identify members in case of any criminal act.

    “We believe that the sector needs to be properly numerated, we need to tag their assets and the purpose of tagging it is to enable us to track them.

    “It helps us deploy the Apps that will help in terms of security which will be shared with Police, FRSC and VIO to verify members in case of any offence committed by members.

    “And a personal Apps for data capturing biometric, which will have the information of the association and its members, “ he said.

    Ejiro told NAN that the informal sector was not organised, saying that with the data capturing biometric it would help the sector in their activities.

    He said that after the exercise the association would be able to identify its members at the state and local government levels.

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  • Kudos to FRSC on the driver licence handshake (1)

    And other well-meaning Nigerians wish to congratulate the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) on the completion of the handshake between the Driver Licence portal and the DSSP portal.

    As the National President of the Association of Driving Instructors of Nigeria (ADIN),  I can authoritatively say that between the time the DSSP portal started running and February 2, 2017, when it was conjoined, not less than one million Driver licences were issued nationwide to the half-baked and those who don’t even know how to drive at all. These atrocities were made possible by some corrupt elements in FRSC who corruptly opened corrupt back doors to process licences for unqualified people thereby licensing killer drivers to operate on Nigerian roads for monetary gains.

    We give God the glory that through the proactive efforts of the incorruptible and indefatigable Corps Marshal/Chief Executive of FRSC, the handshake is now in operation and reports have revealed that all the corrupt backdoors being used for the processing of Driver licence to unqualified people have been automatically closed through the completion of the handshake.

    All would-be drivers must go through accredited Driving Schools to ensure they have the requisite knowledge and practical skills to drive safely on all roads before being issued the National Driver Licence.

    Reports reaching me revealed that some state governments are complaining that the introduction of the FRSC portals and the new handshake will slow down the number of people being licensed and consequently the State revenues. This assertion is not correct because it is still the same number of people that want to obtain Driver licence in Nigeria this year that will still apply for it. The difference is that they are to be well spaced to ensure they are adequately trained before getting licensed to reduce the rate of road traffic crashes and fatalities in Nigeria.

    Governments must not prioritise income generation above the safety of irreparable lives that their Excellencies, the President and Governors, have sworn to an oath to protect.

    If the issuance of driver licence is to be seen as a revenue generation venture, countries, such as the United Kingdom (UK), will not be issuing  a Driver Licence of 15 years.

    The area where the UK is focusing attention upon for income generation is FINES for traffic offences, which also complements their efforts to reduce road accidents and fatalities.

    Just as the FRSC Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Boboye Oyeyemi has repeatedly said, all state governments should establish Traffic Management Agencies. With these agencies functioning effectively and incorruptibly, the state governments will be raking in great revenues from traffic offenders while also using the fines to reduce the rate of road traffic crashes and fatalities.

    There is a need for the government officials to know how this system is working in countries with low rates of road accidents and deaths so that they can fully support the FRSC to make the new system work in Nigeria.

    The FRSC chief has organised several stakeholders’ fora to enlighten us on the need to make the system work in Nigeria and achieve the desired results.

    As a key player in the system, I hereby plead with all the governors, FRSC Officers, Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIS in Lagos State), state Boards of Internal Revenue Officers (MVAA in Lagos State), driving schools and other stakeholders to join hands to make the new Driver Licensing system succeed in Nigeria as in other countries that now have low rate of road traffic crashes and fatalities.

     

    • To be continued

  • Gunmen kidnap FRSC officer, wife

    Gunmen at the weekend abducted an officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ekiti State, Oluwafemi Ojo and his wife on the outskirts of Ogotun-Ekiti in Ekiti Southwest Local Government Area.

    A relation, who pleaded for anonymity, said the kidnappers contacted the family yesterday, demanding N20 million.

    The couple was travelling in a navy blue Honda Accord belonging to Oluwafemi’s elder brother, Oluwadare, who is also an FRSC officer in Ondo State.

    The kidnappers dragged Oluwafemi and his wife into the bush but spared Oluwadare.

    A motorcyclist, Ojo Olabisi, who ran into the kidnappers, died after his motorcycle crashed in a futile escape bid.

    A funeral service was held yesterday morning at St. David’s Anglican Church in Ogotun after which his remains were buried.

  • 6 killed, 13 injured in auto crash in Katsina — FRSC

    The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) on Sunday confirmed the death of six persons in an auto accident on Malumfashi-Funtua road in Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State.

    The FRSC Sector Commander, Alhaji Abdu Bagadawa, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Katsina that the accident occurred at about 2 p.m. in Tashar-fulani village, about 10 kilometres from Malumfashi town.

    He said the accident involved a Toyota bus with registration number: DKA 716 YF, with 19 people on board.

    He added that the vehicle had a tyre burst that caused it to skid off the road, somersaulted, and killed six occupants on the spot.

    He revealed that the 13 injured persons and the corpses were taken to Malumfashi General Hospital.

    The sector commander urged motorists to always abide by traffic rules and regulations
    to reduce accidents on the highways.

    He also urged motorists to desist from using worn-out tyres, speeding and wrong overtaking for their safety and their passengers’. (NAN)

  • Accident claims 22 lives on Kano-Kaduna Expressway — FRSC

    Accident claims 22 lives on Kano-Kaduna Expressway — FRSC

    No fewer than 22 people lost their lives when an articulated vehicle with registration No: WDL 502 XA suffered burst tyre on the Kano-Kaduna Expressway on Friday.

    The FRSC Unit Commander in Tashar-Yari, Ahmed Sa’idu-Daura, who was at the scene of the accident at Tashar-Musa, Makarfi Local Government, confirmed the development to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    Sa’idu-Daura said that 58 others sustained varying degrees of injuries from the accident.

    He said that the vehicle which had a tyre burst due to speeding was also overloaded with both passengers and wood.

    Sa’idu-Daura said the injured persons were taken to a primary healthcare centre at Tashar-Yari.

     

    Those found to be seriously would be referred to the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Shika, Zaria from the primary healthcare centre, he said.

    The unit commander, however, cautioned motorists against speeding, overloading and all other forms of reckless driving to ensure safety of lives and properties.

    “I want to use this medium to call on motorists to be mindful of the fact that lives of those people onboard their vehicles are in their hands.

    “Remember, every single life is very important and is not worth wasting, hence, the need by every driver to be very cautious by driving safely,” Sa’idu-Daura said. (NAN)

  • Kaduna orders FRSC off streets

    Kaduna State government has barred Federal Road Safety Corps’ (FRSC’s) personnel from erecting checkpoints in Kaduna and other urban centres.

    The directive is contained in a statement issued in Kaduna yesterday by Mr. Samuel Aruwan, special assistant to Governor Nasir el-Rufa’i on Media and Publicity.

    It said the decision was taken by the Security Council after a meeting during which it reviewed complaints from the public against road marshals.

    “The council acted following complaints that FRSC officials acted in ways reminiscent of the VIO that was dissolved by the government, following unease caused by their acts of disrespect for the public and penchant for extortion,” the statement said.

    The government said FRSC personnel were barred “from indiscriminately stopping vehicles for inspection in Kaduna town, a situation responsible for avoidable traffic jam and accidents.”

    It directed FRSC officials to concentrate “on ensuring safe travel on highways, such as Abuja-Kaduna Expressway.”

    The government barred petrol tanker drivers from putting firewood, tomatoes and other goods on top of their vehicles, because of the danger the practice posed to life and property.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the meeting was chaired by the governor, and attended by his deputy, Mr. Barnabas Bala and heads of military and paramilitary agencies.

  • FRSC denies alleged extortion of motorists

    FRSC denies alleged extortion of motorists

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Kaduna on Wednesday described as “unfortunate” the allegations by motorist accusing the corps of indiscriminate mounting of checkpoints and extorting motorists in Kaduna.

    The Sector Commander, Mr Francis Udoma, denied the allegation while reacting to the state government order that barred FRSC from erecting checkpoints in Kaduna and other urban centres in the state.

    Udoma explained that since he resumed office as the sector commander of the corps in the state, no motorist or any member of the public file a complaint bordering on extortion of any sort.

    “FRSC do not condone any form of corruption. Collecting bribe under any guise is outright dismissal and our men are fully aware of that.

    “We are only doing our job as prescribed by the act that established FRSC.

    “Asking motorists to pay a fine for committing traffic offences is a matter of law and no official collects any money from motorist they pay in the bank and the money goes to the federation account,”  he explained.

    On the mandate of FRSC, he said that FRSC was empowered to patrol federal, state and local government roads with the core mandate of keeping Nigerian roads accident-free.

    “But if Gov Nasir El-Rufai insists that we should leave, we will do just that because he is the chief security officer and the number one citizen of the state.

    “But we will continue to discharge our duties where necessary in accordance with our mandate,” he said.

    The Kaduna State Government had in a statement signed by Special Assistant to the governor, Mr Samuel Aruwan, on Wednesday barred FRSC from inspecting vehicles in Kaduna and other urban centres in the state.

    Aruwan said the decision was taken by the state Security Council after a meeting in which it reviewed complaints from the general public against the road marshals.

    The government further directed the FRSC officials to henceforth, concentrate their activities “in ensuring safe travel on highways such as the Abuja-Kaduna expressway and other federal highways.”

    The Kaduna State Government had in May 2016, inaugurated traffic and environmental agency tagged,” Kaduna State Traffic and Environmental Laws Enforcement Agency (KASTELEA)”, empowered by law to control and regulate traffic around Kaduna metropolis and other towns in the state.

  • FRSC arrests 186 over speed limiter

    FRSC arrests 186 over speed limiter

    The Edo State Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said it has arrested 186 motorists for failing to install speed limiter in their vehicles.

    The State Sector Commander, Samuel Odukoya, who spoke at the weekend in Benin, the state capital, said the enforcement of the device was in collaboration with other security agencies.

    Odukoya said any motorist found guilty of violating the speed limiter would pay N3,000 fine.

    The sector commander said only motorists without the device were arrested.

    He said: “The enforcement started nationwide in February. Between February 1 and 2, we apprehended 186 motorists for not installing the device in their vehicles.

    “Once you are stopped, we demand for the certificate of installation. But if you can produce it, we check whether or not the device is installed in your vehicle. If it has not been installed, the vehicle would be apprehended and has to pay the stipulated fine, after facing a mobile court.”

  • Gridlock locks down Lagos-Ibadan expressway

    Gridlock locks down Lagos-Ibadan expressway

    For several hours motorists and passengers plying the Lagos-Ibadan expressway were held at a spot following the slow pace of work on the highway.

    Those heading to Lagos were made to spend hours on a journey that supposed to last for 30minutes while those leaving Lagos were blocked by those motorists taking one-way from Arepo axis of the road.

    A commuter, Femi Adeyemi left Ibafo at 6:00 am but the finance executive was at a spot for hours on the long bridge following the narrowness of the Kara Bridge which was been renovated by Julius Berger.

    “I could not believe that I am yet to get to Berger Bus Stop by 9:00 am having left home in Ibafo by 6:00 am. I think those carrying out the work deliberately put us under a lot of stress. The slow pace of the work has really made the road tasking for most of us living on this axis. I have never experienced this kind of traffic since I moved to this area a few years ago. It is killing to go through this kind of situation everyday and the same will repeat itself when I am returning from work. I think the Ministry of Work must step in and let this construction firm realise that several hours of time is being wasted on the bridge,” he groaned.

    Students were not left out of the traffic impasse as most of them were stranded at the bus stops without buses in sight to convey them to Lagos.

    Emeka Chukwudi, a student of Ojodu Grammar School told Nation that he used to leave Mowe 5:30 am on Mondayhoping to get to school before 7:00 am. But the junior class three student decided to trek to Ibafo in order to get a bus. Unfortunately, as at 8:00 am, he was still waiting alongside other commuters waiting for buses.

    “I am late now because the buses were not coming. I did not envisage this because on Monday I used to leave home by 5:30 am and hoping to get to school by 7:00 am. But as at 8:00 am, I am still standing at the bus stop without any bus in sight. I don’t know why I have to go through this on daily basis just to get to school. Coming back again is another problem because even if I leave school by 4:00 pm, I won’t get home until 7:00 pm because of the gridlock heading out of Lagos,” the 14-year-old lamented.

    However, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) swept on commuters plying one-way from the Arepo axis of the road by preventing them from the illegal act.

    An official of FRSC who spoke to Nation on condition of anonymity said that they decided to stop those using one-way from the Arepo axis of the road from blocking those heading out Lagos.

    “We just had to move into action because we realised that some commuters were taken one-way from the Arepo axis and blocking those leaving Lagos. We had to stop them because this might lock down the road for hours. We have also appealed to the construction firm to open the closed part of the Kara Bridge to allow free flow of vehicles heading to Lagos.

    “I think, motorists just have to be patience so that the traffic will not be locked down on daily basis. We hope that the construction firm can finish the work on the Kara Bridge before the end of January so that the traffic stretching to Lagos and out of Lagos can be reduced,” he said.