The Nation Newspaper

Tag: FRSC

  • Fayose arrests FRSC personnel for traffic offence

    Fayose arrests FRSC personnel for traffic offence

    Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, was involved in another drama on Thursday when he arrested an officer of the Federal Road Safety (FRSC) in Ikere Ekiti for driving against traffic.

    Fayose personally arrested the FRSC officer while on his way to the flag off of dualization of the Ado-Ikere-Ondo State boundary road and commissioning of some projects in Ikere town as part of activities marking the first anniversary of his administration.

    The FRSC officer whose name was given as Adeola Alabi left the bad portion of the road for the other lane and drove against traffic to avoid potholes and reconnect the lane he was before.

    The incident which happened at Sawmill area of Ikere Ekiti caused traffic snarl as some residents came out to watch the drama.

    Alabi’s action infuriated Fayose who ordered security operatives in his convoy to ensure the road safety officer was apprehended.

    After he was arrested, Alabi prostrated before Fayose, begging the governor to have mercy on him.

    The governor did not listen to his pleas, maintaining that law must take its course.

    Fayose ordered that the Peugeot 505 Saloon car driven by Alabi should be seized and taken to the Ekiti State Traffic Management Agency (EKSTMA) yard.

    The culprit is expected to cough out N50,000 as fine for driving against traffic.

  • FRSC arrests 1,876 offenders

    FRSC arrests 1,876 offenders

    AT its review of activities during the Sallah celebration, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has said 1,876 offenders were arrested on Lagos/Ogun states’ roads.

    Their offences ranged from lane violation, speed limit violation, overloading, use of phone while driving and drunk-driving.

    Others were dangerous driving, seat belt violation, driving with worn-out tyres and unlatched containers.

    FRSC RS.2 Zonal Commander Nseobong Charles Akpabio, who disclosed this at the Zone’s third quarter retreat last Friday, said the enforcement, carried out on 15 roads, saw drivers booked for 2,260 offences.

    Speaking on the theme: “Effect of corruption on service delivery,” Akpabio said over 500 Regular and 2500 Special Marshals enforced the rules.

    Akpabio said the zone recorded only eight road crashes – one fatal, six serious and one minor during the period.

    The zone, he said, is committed to reducing accidents this year.  He hailed the officers for their commitment which enabled the zone to achieve the feat.

    He urged the officers to be punctual always and committed to their duty without compromise. He asked them to abstain from all forms of indiscipline, bribery and corruption which could tarnish the image of the Corps.

    Akpabio, however, warned members of the public against inducing officers, adding that it is worrisome that some offer the officers bribe in the office. He said anyone caught offering its men bribe would be prosecuted with the officer and may have his or her vehicle impounded.

    He appealed to motorists, who had completed their biometric capturing, to revisit the Drivers’ Licence Centres within the zone for the collection of their licences. He said over 15,000 drivers’ licence are ready for the owners to collect.

    The zone also rewarded 285 officers for effective performance and rejection of bribes while on patrol.

    He said the awards were given to the officers, who on various days, time and dates, rejected bribes from individuals and motorists.

    Akpabio said the officers, instead of collecting the bribe, booked the motorists, describing their actions as a welcome development that would uplift the image of the Corps.

    He urged the officers to continue to shun corruption, saying, the Corps have zero tolerance for bribery and corruption.

    “Anyone officers caught would have his or her appointment terminated,” he added.

    The guest speaker,  Arinze Felix Echeta, a lawyer, appealed to the officers, public office holders and Nigerians to change their mindsets on bribery and corruption, noting that, they ruin the country.

    He said it was no longer news that Nigeria is corrupt and that service delivery has been sacrificed on the altar of corruption. According to him, it will be better for Nigerians to wake up from their apathy and start preaching vigorously for an attitudinal change.

    He praised the FRSC for its zero tolerance on corruption and commended the Zone for the initiative of not just hunting down ‘bad eggs’ among the officers, but rewarding those who remain committed to the ideals and the dreams of the founding fathers of the Corps.

    Echeta said such positive measures would no doubt encourage the recipients of such rewards and reinforce their readiness to do more and  motivate the unfortunate ones to redouble their efforts for greater attainment.

    He urged the officers to abstain from any impossible circumstances that could confront and force them to be apathetic and want to get even with the society, probably by resorting to self-helps such as ‘obtaining by false pretence (419), armed robbery, kidnapping and kindred vices, thereby multiplying the degree of social perversion that had deformed our society.

    The Ota Unit Command’s Deputy Route Commander, Mr Lawal Abdul Wasiu Ayinla, who spoke on behalf of the recipients, praised the Corps for rewarding the officers after their much commitment to duty without compromised. This, he said, would redouble their commitment and reinforced their determination to do more.

  • FRSC tackles speeding in Enugu

    FRSC tackles speeding in Enugu

    The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has held a sensitisation rally In Enugu, aiming to curb speeding which is blamed for most road crashes.

    The theme of the rally was:  Speed Reduction- A panacea to Road Traffic Crashes.

    The corps marshal and chief executive of FRSC, Boboye Oyeyemi represented by his assistant, Kenneth Nwaegbe, maintained that the FRSC remained the leading agency in traffic management.

    He said, “The anti-speed is introduced to enhance road safety, increase value for fleet owners and operators and contribute to the reduction in human and material losses arising from road traffic crashes.”

    The corps marshal affirmed that it was imperative that speed infraction and violation must consciously be controlled through humans (drivers), mechanical mechanism (speed limiting device) to enable carnages on our roads be eradicated.

    He further reminded the road users the regulation on speed limit which includes motorcycles Nil, private vehicles 100km/hr, taxis and buses 90km/hr, tanker/ trailers 50km/hr, tow vehicle while towing 45km/hr and tow vehicles while not towing 70km/hr.

    Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu state who was represented by the commissioner of transport, Barr. Vitus Okechi urged everyone to embrace the campaign wholeheartedly in order to help reduce unnecessary loss of life that takes place everyday.

    “I promise that as government, we will continue to offer to transport commission, the necessary assistance and support to ensure the success of this campaign”, he said.

    Garrison commander 82 division Nigerian Army, Col. G.O Umarugben assured the commission that the army would partner with it and always be ready to assist it on the campaign against careless road users.

    In the same vein, the sector commander, David U Mendie enjoined all stakeholders to join hands with the FRSC inorder to douse the painful agony occasioned by preventable Road Traffic Crashes and safe guard the lives of Nigerians and by extension improve on our economic strength as a nation.

    The commander, Southeast Federal Fire Service, Nwoko Chinedum condemned the use of obsolete fire extinguisher by the drivers and urged them to cross check the extinguisher before buying.

    Later in an interview, the assistant corps marshal FRSC, Enugu sector command, Kenneth Nwaegbe advised that people should embark on their journey early and the drivers should know that the road is being shared by other road users like trailers.

    “We believe that with this kind of institution, the road users will remain a bit more cautious than ever before”.

    The occasion was graced by commandant Nigeria security and civil defence corps represented by Mr P. C Eze; the controller of prisons, Sir Alloy Ikechukwu Uchenwa; the youth corps members and other honourable dignitaries.

     

  • Death toll on Cross River road: 43 in 8 weeks

    Death toll on Cross River road: 43 in 8 weeks

    Another eight persons lost their lives Friday in a ghastly autocrash along the Okurikang axis of the deplorable Calabar-Itu Highway in Cross River State

    Eye witnesses said the accident involved a truck and four other vehicles.

    The incident which occurred at about 10.30 brings to 43 the number of lives that have been lost on the federal highway in the past eight weeks.

    The eye witness said the driver of the truck who was carrying scraps and heading to Aba lost control and rammed into four other cars killing some of the occupants.

    The Sector commander of the Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC) in Cross River State, Mr. Ikechukwu Igwe confirmed the incident saying, “five vehicles were involved, a truck and four other vehicles and by the time we got there two had already been removed.

    “On the whole eight people died and three people were injured. We took the three injured people to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) first and on our way back to pick the dead ones, we noticed that the police had already evacuated the dead bodies. But our men are there clearing the road and we have made some recoveries including money”.

    Among the dead ones he said include, “one female adult and seven male adult. Two male adult and two female adult are in the hospital now”.

    On the immediate cause of the accident, Igwe said “for the fact that they said a truck was involved means that he was reckless. You know how they drive along that road. Right now the vehicles are in the bush. For the fact that he ran into all the four vehicles, it is either he lost control or he was speeding but I am going to get the details”.

    He appealed to “motorists to be patient” especially as we enter the “ember” months.

  • Nine died in Odukpani auto crash, says FRSC

    The Cross River command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has said nine persons died when a truck ran into two buses and another truck on the Odukpani axis of the Calabar Ikom highway.

    The truck was said to be speeding towards Calabar, the state capital, when it ran into traffic and veered into the opposite lane.

    FRSC’s Commander Ikechukwu Igwe said nine persons died in the accident.

    He said: “The actual number of persons that died in that accident was nine. Seven died on the spot and we took the bodies to the mortuary in Calabar. Two others later died at the General Hospital in Akamkpa. On the whole, nine persons died. There are six survivors.

    “It took us almost three hours to remove the driver, who caused the accident, from his truck, because he was trapped. Four other persons in one of the buses came down to see the cause of the traffic. That was how they were saved.

    “The people who were killed were inside the buses. Those who died instantly were the drivers of the Toyota Sienna and Toyota Picnic as well as five passengers. Four vehicles were involved in the accident.

    “The impatient driver left his lane, probably lost control and ran into the Sienna and Picnic before colliding with another truck coming from the opposite direction. The cause of the accident was impatience.”

    The FRSC sector commander said the truck driver was in a terrible condition.

  • We are not recruiting, says FRSC

    We are not recruiting, says FRSC

    The Federal Road Safety Corps ( FRSC ) over the weekend said it is not recruiting staff into any office or department.

    In a statement issued by the corps public education officer, Imoh Etuk, the FRSC dissociated itself from on-going activities of scammers extorting money from desperate job seekers under the guise that they could facilitate their employment into the Corps.

    The FRSC advised job seekers to disregard such unauthorized and mischievous antics as the Corps is not presently embarking on any recruitment exercise.

    “For avoidance of doubt, the general public should note that the Corps adopts open processes in conducting its recruitment exercise and publishes same through credible platforms such as national newspapers, Television and Radio stations, its web site, official Facebook and twitter.

    ” When the Corps is recruiting, information on such is made available through various platforms,”he said

    The Corps also informed the public that the Corps Marshal FRSC, Boboye Oyeyemi is not on Facebook, as fraudsters are also using several fake facebook accounts, with his identification to swindle unsuspecting members of the public.

    “To this end, all should dissociate themselves from these facebook accounts.

    “The FRSC in corporation with security agencies are on the trail of these criminal elements.

    “Members of the public are hereby warned not to be fooled by the fraudsters”he said

  • FRSC boss urges marketers to upgrade safety standard

    FRSC boss urges marketers to upgrade safety standard

    Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Boboye Oyeyemi has urged the independent petroleum marketers to upgrade their safety standards in line with global best practice in conveying petroleum products.

    He said the safety standard must not be compromised on the altar of profit-making. Oyeyemi, who spoke in a statement at a presentation of the Transport Service Providers’ Training Workshop at Oando Nigeria Plc in Apapa, Lagos, said the country had reached a stage where stakeholders must take road safety serious by observing the safety standards set to guarantee safety of life and property.

    He expressed dissatisfaction that most of the crashes involving tankers/trailers were avoidable, as the vehicles were old and mechanically-dysfunctional, with the drivers poorly-trained.

    Oyeyemi enjoined stakeholders to demonstrate commitment to road safety by adopting scientific safety measures in their operations.

    He said: “It is unprecedented in the history of this country that the number of tanker/trailer crashes as well as the casualties recorded this year ever happened.

    “In June, we recorded 16 crashes involving tankers/trailers, while that of Onitsha claimed 49 lives.

    “The other crashes, which occurred in Lagos and other parts of the country not only claimed lives, but also destroyed houses and vehicles in the inferno that threw the nation into mourning.”

    Giving an overview of the crash situation globally, Oyeyemi said 1.3 million people die annually from road crashes and 50 million suffer injuries, with Nigeria accounting for 10, 380 of the crashes last year.

    “Five thousand five hundred and ninety-six people died last year in the country from road crashes. Thirty thousand and eighty nine suffered injuries and 16, 779 vehicles were involved,” he added.

    Speaking on the policy measures put in place by the FRSC to avoid crashes involving haulage vehicles, Oyeyemi said the Road Transport Safety Standardisation Scheme (RTSSS), which the commission launched in 2007, was aimed at creating safe environment for fleet operators.

    According to him, the scheme required the employment of a safety manager by every operator with over five vehicles in his fleet to ensure observance of safety rules and regulations by the drivers of the company.

    The workshop was organised by Oando Nigeria PLC, with participants from fleet managers of the major petroleum marketers.

  • Two die in Benin-Auchi highway auto crash

    Two die in Benin-Auchi highway auto crash

    The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) on Tuesday confirmed the death of two persons in a multiple road crash on the Benin-Auchi highway.

    The Auchi FRSC Unit Commander, Mrs Archibong Nseobot, gave the confirmation during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Auchi, Edo.

    Mrs Nseobot said the deceased lost their lives in an accident involving an articulated vehicle, an Infinity jeep, two Toyota saloon cars and a motorcycle, at Aviele in the Etsako-West Local Government Area of Edo on Sept. 7.

    She said the accident was due to speed violation by the drivers and loss of control of the vehicles.

    Mrs Nseobot said that 10 passengers were involved in the accident.

    The Auchi FRSC unit commander, however, appealed to motorists to always obey traffic regulations during and after the ember months.

  • Gombe donates vehicles to FRSC

    Gombe donates vehicles to FRSC

    The Gombe State government has donated two patrol vans to the state Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to aid its operations.

    The Sector Commander, Mr. Abayomi Omiyale received the vans on behalf of the command.

    He said, “The donation could not have come at a better time or on a better day than on the very first day of the ‘ember months, the period during which most of the crashes in the year actually occur.

    “For the governor to have donated these two vehicles means that he does not want traffic offenders to go unpunished and therefore, you will not enjoy his sympathy if you are apprehended, especially as we go through the ‘ember months

    “For those of you who think you could use Route ‘B’ because Road Safety is operating on Route ‘A’, it is no longer business as usual. We are now ubiquitous, that is, we can now be at different points at the same time.”

    Omiyale recalled that the administration of Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo had earlier donated three ambulances to the Sector Command and equally established a Unit Command in Cham near where majority of the crashes along Gombe-Yola Road used to were happening before that Unit Command was established.

    He said, “Not only that; he provided ample office accommodation for the Command, including residential accommodation and fuels our patrol vehicles on a weekly basis.

    “It is for this reason that the Corps Marshall and Chief Executive of the FRSC, Engineer Boboye Olayemi Oyeyemi himself would have loved to be here but he is out of the country.”

    He said this commitment led to a further decline in the statistics of road crashes, adding: “If you look at January to July of last year, 2014 and this year 2015, road crashes in Gombe State have gone down by 18% from 103 in 2014 to 84 in 2015; injuries have also gone down by 20% from 424 in 2014, to 341 in 2015 and fatalities (death) have also gone down 28%, from 74 in 2014 to 53 in 2015.

     

  • Aba: Fire destroys goods worth millions of naira

    Aba: Fire destroys goods worth millions of naira

    Properties estimated to worth over N5 million were on Friday morning engulfed in an inferno that occurred along the busy Aba-Owerri road in the commercial city of Abia State.

    This is coming barely 3days after four persons were reportedly killed by an articulated truck driver who rammed into three commercial tricycles and a Toyota Sienna SUV and allegedly discharging its content on the victims in a nearby ditch.

    While no life was lost in the fire incident, The Nation gathered burnt about seven vehicles, three commercial tricycles and destroyed commercial and residential buildings within the area the incident occurred.

    According to an eyewitness account, Augustine Anosike said that the truck loaded with Diesel was entering a filling station along the Aba-Owerri road to discharge its content when the body of the vehicle bearing the petroleum product pulled off and landed on the road’s median and overturned its content on the road.

    Another eyewitness, Ifeanyi Okoro, who corroborated the former, said “the tanker was going into the opposite filling Station but we didn’t know that it was carrying something inside it. Normally, because it is a long truck, other vehicles coming from Osisioma into Aba will hold on for it to find turn and pack very well.

    “So, while the driver was trying to reverse in order to pack well, the body of the truck pulled out from the head unknown to the driver, discharging its content on the road. And because we know the dangers it portends, we rushed to the other side of the main road to stop vehicles and avert the impending dangers. But a stubborn commercial driver who could not wait bypassed some of us and drove on the diesel.

    “We suspected that the heat from the bus exhaust pipe was what ignited the fire and before you know what is happening, everywhere was in flame. The rage of the fire was so fierce that some of us had to run for safety until the Abia State Fire servicemen arrived the scene.

    “They (Fire Servicemen) were actually prompt and it was as a result of their promptness that some property that worth over billions of naira was saved. We thank God that no life was lost, but the damage was too terrible. The whereabouts of the driver and the truck is still not known because he sped off immediately the fire started burning. If you go into the nearby compound, you will see a truck 911 that ran into there for safety, but was unfortunately burnt in the process. Another man just stopped by the road side for the vulcanizer to either pump or change his car tyre but because of the rate the fire was spreading, the car  got burnt in the process.”, Ifeanyi narrated.

    Nnamdi Ukata, whose vehicle was affected in a nearby compound, said “I am a driver and I come to Aba from Umuahia on daily basis, but after working I will pack my vehicle in this compound to go back and return the next day. While I was coming into Aba this morning, I saw a thick black cloud in the sky and I never knew that the fire incident was happening where I packed my car. But when I came around, I saw my car burnt to ashes. I don’t know what to do. Am just confused”, he said.

    Another man that lost his car in the inferno, Rev. Alfred Okeke told reporters that he parked his car by the roadside to buy feed for his livestock before the incident and lamented that his car was equally engulfed in the inferno.

    A resident of one of the affected buildings, Mr. Emmanuel Kingsley while thanking God for sparing the lives of his brothers and other members of his family, described the incident as one of the horrific experiences he has had in recent times.

    Our correspondent, reports that while men of the Abia State Fire Service were battling to quench the fire, personnel of the Aba Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) were also on ground to ensure that there was free flow of traffic in the area.

    An official of the Fire Service who spoke to our correspondent on anonymity said the situation would have been worse than the damage if the content was Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS).

    FRSC Aba Commander, Okora Awassam who lamented the attitude of truck drivers on the road said that there were a lot of enlightenment programmes that the agency had initiated to educate the drivers on the need to be safety conscious at all times.

    Awassam urged truck owners and drivers to also make sure that their vehicle were in good shape before driving on the road.