The Nation Newspaper

Tag: FRSC

  • FRSC arrests over 2,000 motorists

    FRSC arrests over 2,000 motorists

    NO FEWER than 2,033 motorists were arrested for 2,268 traffic offences during Easter, says Lagos State Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

    About 650 vehicles were seized during the exercise tagged: “Easter Special Patrol,” between April 1 and 8.

    Lagos Sector Commander Hyginus Omeje said the exercise was in line with the Corps’ strategic goals of reducing accidents by 20 per cent and accident related deaths by 30 per cent.

    According to him, seven crashes were recorded during the period; two persons were killed in two, 25 were injured and 52 were unhurt.

    Omeje said: “Over 500 officers, 35 patrol vehicles, two ambulances and four motor bicycles were deployed by the Corps in strategic roads within the state, while two heavy duty tow trucks were also positioned to remove obstructions in the shortest possible time in the event of any breakdown.”

    Before the exercise, the Corps, according to Omeje, embarked on safe road enlightenment campaign in 117 motor parks; over 5,000 handbills distributed. The Corps had 16 radio programmes aimed at educating the public on safety on the highway.

    The Lagos and Ogun Sates Zonal Commander, Assistant Corps Marshal Charles Akpabio, directed the officers to enenforce “strictly” the traffic laws.

    He urged motorists to avoid drinking when driving or the use of mobile phone while driving. Other offences include seat belt violation, over-speeding, overloading and any form of distraction while driving. He added that the licences and vehicles of defaulters may be seized.

    He appealed to officers to avoid bribery, adding that any one caught would be dismissed.

    The Lagos and Ogun Special Marshals’ Coordinator, Mr Toyin Kadiku, appealed to motorists to adopt defensive driving culture. He urged them to ensure that their vehicles are roadworthy.

    The Anambra Command said it deployed 1,000 regular and special marshals for the exercise.

    The  Sector Commander, Mr Sunday Ajayi, who spoke in Awka, the state cpital, advised motorists to comply with directives.

    He said the commission would continue to arrest erring motorists in order to keep the roads safe.

    “I have deployed over 1,000 personnel that include regular and special marshals  on the roads,” he said.

    Ajayi  urged motorists to be safety conscious always.

     

  • FRSC and statutory functions

    SIR: Though the Nigerian Army started the first public safety campaign in 1972 when it initiated an annual road safety week, the very first deliberate government policy on road safety was the creation in 1974 of the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) by the then Military Government. The impact of that commission was, nevertheless, not sustained. But in 1977, The Military Administration in Oyo State established the Oyo State Road Safety Corps that made some local significant improvements in Road safety and road discipline in the state.

    This lasted till 1983 when the Federal Government disbanded it. With the emergence of oil boom in Nigeria in the early 1970s, the trend of road traffic accidents spirally escalated and turned the country into one of the most road traffic accident (RTA) prone nations in the world, second only to Ethiopia. To address this dangerous trend, the Nigerian Government established what is now called the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in 1988 with certain spelt out duties and functions.

    Some relevant parts of such functions as contained in Decree No.45 of 1988 as amended by decree No.35 of 1992, passed and named by the National Assembly as Federal Road Safety Commission (establishment) Act 2007 which established FRSC are as follows: To design and produce driver’s license to be used by various categories of vehicle operators and determine, from time to time, the requirements to be satisfied by an applicant for a driver’s license; To prevent and minimize accidents on the highways and clear obstructions on any part of those highways; To educate drivers, motorists and other members of the public generally on the proper use of the highways; To design and produce vehicle number plates and standardize highway traffic  codes; To give prompt attention and care to victims of accidents and conduct researches into causes of motor accidents and methods of preventing them as well as putting into use the result of such researches.

    Also, the FRSC is empowered to determine and force speed limits for all categories of vehicles and adopt the use of speed limiting devices; To cooperate with other bodies or agencies or groups in Road Safety activities or in preventing accidents on the highways; To make regulations in pursuance of any of the functions assigned to the corps under this Act; To regulate the use of sirens, flashers and beacon lights on vehicles other than ambulances and those belonging to the Armed forces, Nigeria police, Fire service and other para military agencies; To provide roadside and mobile clinics for the treatments of accident victims free of change.

    Contrary to the above duties and functions of the FRSC, vehicles and other materials causing obstructions on the major highways is a regular feature on our roads. Apart from the fact that vehicles which have been damaged as a result of accident or mechanical faults constitutes obstructions on the roads, thereby hampering free flow of traffic, the activities of some motorists who by one way or the other feels they are above the law of the land and parks their vehicles in such a way that obstruct the flow of traffic thereby infringing on the rights of other road users. Many of these road obstructions end up spending weeks and months on our highways without any positive response from the FRSC. Rather, the FRSC itself regularly constitutes road obstructions of some sort in the name of carrying out unnecessary checks, which in their own wisdom should only be carried out during festive periods.

    It is a well-known fact that one of the major causes of accidents on the Nigerian roads and elsewhere in the world is drunk driving. Unfortunately and ridiculously too, when one takes a stroll along the streets of the major cities in this country, sights of bars and beer parlors are quite obvious and glaring everywhere, especially within the hours of 6pm and 12midnight, most of the customers who patronize such bars and beer parlors usually go in their vehicles. One now begins to wonder if drunk driving is really an offense in Nigeria? If motorists can freely park their vehicles along the road sides of major streets, take as many bottles of alcohol and then are allowed to go on to drive their vehicles on the same roads with innocent Nigerians, then the FRSC is not doing enough as regards our safety on the roads.

    A visit to some of the major parks in major cities shows that the sale and consumption of diluted local gins called paraga, ‘push me-I push u’ or ‘taju-taju’ is a regular feature. Most of the divers wouldn’t take off without taking one or two “shots” of these diluted local gins. What is surprising is the way the FRSC has always pretended as if it is not aware that such things happen in Nigeria, thereby deliberately putting the lives of innocent Nigerians  at risk.

    Rather than focusing on generating funds or revenues for the government, which is not even part of its statuary duties and functions, the FRSC should concentrate more on saving lives on Nigerian roads and it should remain within the confines of its functions. It should beam its searchlights on the activities of the sales and consumption of alcohol in parks and on the streets of major Nigerian cities. Regular and routine surveillance should be carried out on the highways to ensure that obstructions are cleared in order is prevent accidents and enhance free flow of traffic. The FRSC should not always wait until it is festive season to go all out to ensure maximum safety on our roads but this should rather be a daily routine. In line with the functions  and duties of the FRSC, roadside and mobile clinics should be established at regular intervals along the major highways to serve as first aid points to accident victims..

     

    •  Hussain Obaro,

    Ilorin-kwara state

  • FRSC takes safety campaign to churches, mosques

    FRSC takes safety campaign to churches, mosques

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) yesterday in Lagos urged motorists to adhere to safety rules to reduce the high accident rate.

    Its Unit Commander in Ikotun-Egbe, Lagos, Mrs Chiwendu Iwuoha, made the appeal during a church service at SS Timothy and Titus Catholic Church in Isheri-Oshun.

    She called for attitudinal change by motorists on the roads, saying that taking safety campaigns to churches and mosques were part of the strategic measures to meet the Corps’ 2015 target of reducing road accidents.

    The irreparability of human lives, she said, made it compulsory for Nigerians to take road safety serious and be ambassadors of the crusade.

    “Nobody can pay for a life as no amount of compensation can bring back lives lost to road crashes.

    “When you visit hospitals and mortuaries, you will see what disobedience to traffic rules has made many Nigerians to become.

    “This issue calls for total commitment of everyone as road safety is a joint responsibility of all,” she said.

  • Easter: FRSC conducts drunk test on drivers

    Easter: FRSC conducts drunk test on drivers

    Towards ensuring an accident free Easter, the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC Thursday conducted drunk test on commercial bus drivers at major parks in the city.

    It has also deployed 455 patrol vehicles, 66 Ambulances, 102 motor bikes, 12 tow trucks and over 34,000 personnel along designated routes as part of measures to ensure sanity on the nation’s highways, during the season.

    Part of this nationwide engagement plans, according to the FRSC Corps Marshal and Chief Executive, Boboye Oyeyemi, is massive deployment of personnel and logistics along 23 designated critical corridors and black spots such as Sagamu-Ore-Benin, Lokoja-Benin-Auchi, Onitsha-Ihiala-Aba, Abuja-Keffi-Akwanga-HawanKibo-Jos,Minna-Birnin-Kebbi-Sokoto-Gusau-Funtua-Zaria,Kabba-Umuoke-Ekiti-Ido-Ilesha,Benin-Warri- Patani – Portharcourt and Makurdi- Oturkpo-Obollo Afor-9th Mile highways and 65 routes, identified for this exercise”.

    Similarly, the Corps’ 24 emergency ambulance response centres located at designated routes across the country in the FCT, Kaduna, Gombe, Jigawa, Taraba, Niger, Kogi, Ondo, Edo, Osun, Nasarawa, Plateau and Kwara states,  will be operational throughout the period.

    The FRSC said it will be complemented by relevant stakeholders such as the Nigerian Police, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, National Emergency Management Agency and others.

    This year’s nationwide exercise has become necessary to reduce the spate of road traffic crashes in the country usually resulting from violations of traffic rules and regulations, most especially during festive seasons.

    The special patrol also entails intensive patrols, prompt rescue services, strict enforcement of traffic rules and robust public enlightenment campaigns across the nation.

    Furthermore, the Corps Marshal has directed the removal of obstructions from the highways while efforts should be geared towards public enlightenment campaigns through the distribution of safety handbills. Infractions such as use of cell phone while driving, speed limit violation/dangerous driving, removal of rickety vehicles, overloading/wrongful over taking, number plate (defaced) violation, expired/fake driver’s licence violations will attract severe sanctions from the Corps.

    Motorists are also warned to ensure strict compliance with all traffic rules and regulations and proper maintenance of their vehicles. Passengers are equally enjoined to monitor their drivers on reckless driving, driving under the influence of alcohol and other road vices.

  • FRSC deploys 20,000 personnel, 413 patrol vehicles for election

    FRSC deploys 20,000 personnel, 413 patrol vehicles for election

    As the general election draws near, the Federal Road Safety Corps has deployed 20,000 personnel and 413 patrol vehicles, ambulances and tow trucks along designated routes of the highways in the country.

    This move is expected to collaborate with other security agencies to ensure sanity on the nation’s highway throughout the duration of the elections.

    A statement issued in Abuja Thursday by the Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Boboye Oyeyemi said  the Corps has drawn a road map towards effective patrolling of designated routes of the highways in addition to prompt rescue services and public enlightenment campaigns, as part of measures to engender best road safety practices among road users.

    He said this is in addition to the Corps’ 24 emergency ambulance response centres located at designated routes across the country in the FCT, Kaduna, Gombe, Jigawa, Taraba, Niger, Kogi, Ondo, Edo, Osun, Nasarawa, Plateau and Kwara states.

    He urged motorists to ensure proper planning and management of trips through maintenance of their vehicles and compliance with traffic rules and regulations.

    “Motorists and other categories of road users are strictly warned to desist from all road vices such as overloading, speed limit violation, non-use of seat belt, route violation (driving against traffic), making/receiving calls while driving and night trips,” he said

  • Don’t be reckless, FRSC tells motorists

    The Federal Road Safety Corps, Lagos sector command, has urged the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and LAGBUS managements to monitor their drivers.

    The Surulere Unit Commander, Mrs Olawumi Oyeniyi, accused BRT and LAGBUS drivers of contributing to high rate of accidents with their over speeding, recklessness and hooliganism.

    She said some LAGBUS drivers always drive against traffic and have no respect for other road users, noting that they drive recklessly both on their dedicated corridors and ordinary roads.

    Besides, Mrs Oyeniyi said, some BRT drivers also behave as hooligans, thus constituting dangers to other road users.

    She appealed to BRT and LAGBUS managements to check their drivers and organise safety training and enlightenment programmes for the drivers and ensure that they are properly screened before recruiting them.

    Mrs. Oyeniyi appealed to commercial drivers to install speed limiters in their vehicles before the June 30 deadline when the Corps will start its enforcement.

    Speed limiters, according to her, were introduced to check over-speeding, which is another cause of road crashes.

    She urged transport unions to continue educating their members on the need to install the device saying: “Any driver arrested from July 1, for failing to install it shall be prosecuted.”

    She appealed to motorists and pedestrians to obey traffic rules and regulations. “Pedestrians should ensure that they use pedestrian bridges while crossing the highways and ensure they watch the road well, where there is none, before they cross,” she said.

    The Oshodi unit commander, Mr Taiwo Eko, also urged commercial drivers and motorcyclists to always obey traffic rules.

    Eko identified lack of knowledge of traffic regulations and driver’s impatience as some of the major factors causing road accidents. He urged them to engage in defensive driving and ensure that they have their driver’s licence.

    He appealed to corporate organisations to always ensure that vehicles are in good condition before embarking on any journey. He also called on them to organise safety training among their drivers to guarantee safety of lives and properties on the road.

  • Why accidents are many during rains, by FRSC

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has advised motorists to ensure their vehicles are in order during the rainy season.  Reason: poor vehicle maintenance is responsible for the rise in breakdown and accidents during the season.

    At an enlightenment campaign organised by the Mowe Unit Command in conjunction with the Trinity International College, for motorists and commercial motorcyclists in Ofada, in Obafemi/Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State, the Commander, Oludare Ogunjobi, said motorists should pay more attention to their vehicles during the rainy season.

    Ogunjobi, represented by the Head of Operations, Mr Azeez Omotosho, said over 70 percent of accidents are caused by speed limit violation and poor maintenance of vehicles.

    He listed some of the faults noticeable especially during this period to include; brake failure, loss of control due to poor visibility, tyre burst, somersaulting and dangerous overtaking.

    He reiterated FRSC’s commitment to safer road use during the wet period and after, warning that motorists should comply with all traffic regulations and maintain their vehicles.

    According to him, it is a must for motorists to fix their vehicles’ wiper blades, head and tail lights, brakes, horns and to avoid the use of worn-out tyres.

    The commander expressed concern over poor driving habits, lamenting especially motorists’ attitude towards tyre care and general vehicle maintenance.

    Most drivers, he said, have poor maintenance culture and are less concerned about the state of their tyres forgetting that their care should not be compromised because they are the part of the vehicle that have direct contact with the road.

    The FRSC boss  urged individuals, corporate organisations and fleet owners, especially cement factories operating within Ogun State to ensure regular maintenance of their vehicles and monitor their drivers.

    Cement truck drivers, Ogunjobi said, contribute to the high rate of accidents because of their reckless driving, nonchalant attitude, overloading, breach of traffic regulations, and drink driving.

    Ogunjobi urged cyclists to avoid over speeding, over loading or wrong overtaking, adding that they should always make use of their safety helmets and sun glasses which are part of their safety devices.

    He advised tipper drivers to always ensure that their sands and gravels are properly covered to avoid harming other motorists behind them. “Uncover your goods when you are stationary but cover it up when you are on the road.”

    He said many motorists including okada riders have been blinded by sand flying out of unprotected trucks, while stones from such unprotected trucks have shattered wind screens.

    The school’s Director of Education, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Aderinoye, said the programme was organised because of the reckless and nonchalant attitude of most drivers and cyclists within the community, which resulted in the death of several road users.

    She appealed to motorcyclists to stop reckless driving because it is dangerous. She urged transport union leaders to enlighten their members and increase their monitoring and enforcement.

    Mrs Aderinoye urged motorists to take precautions while driving in order to ensure their safety.

    The AMORAN, ACCOMORAN and Ajowa Tippers Association union leaders’ pledged their support for the FRSC’s efforts in checking  road lawlessness.

    They, however,   called on the state government to rehabilitate the community’s road.

    The drivers were tested for high blood pressure and sugar level.

  • Anambra FRSC command alleged impersonator

    A thirty year old fake staff of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has been arrested by the Department of Security service (DSS) and handed over to the agency in Anambra state.

    The FRSC said Thursday in Awka that the suspect, Raymond Aghaogwu had been defrauding unsuspecting public for sometime in the state.

    The FRSC impersonator is a native of Ebonyi state and a former staff of the agency, who was sacked from service in 2008.

    Found in his possession, a set of FRSC uniform including headdress, FRSC jacket, trousers, safety boot and belt among others.

    In his reaction Thursday, the sector commander, Sunday Ajayi, said that the suspect who reside in Makurdi, Benue state,  engaged in illegal driver’s license procurement, recruitment of special Marshals, procurement of auctioned vehicles  and employment racketeering.Ajayi said the suspect who had been under watch in the past two years, specialized in defrauding clergymen and other unsuspecting public.

    He said the suspect was nabbed by men of the Department of State Security in Awka, after he went to withdraw cash paid into his account by a victim.

    However, he urged the people who had fallen victim of his nefarious activities to come to the command for consideration and further warned the public to be wary of whom they dealt with.

    According to him, “Aghaogwu was a former staff of the FRSC but was dismissed in 2008, since his dismissal he has been defrauding people in the name of the FRSC and this morning I am presenting him to the general public to disclaim all his activities.

    “To the general public, we want to warn that any suspicious move by anybody who claims to be representing should be reported to us or the police because we cannot do this alone.

    “And whether in uniform or not, no staff of the FRSC is allowed to transact on behalf of the corps outside, all transaction with the FRSC must be done in our offices for proper guidance because people like this have been frustration our efforts,” he said.

    The suspect who claimed to have joined FRSC in 2004, admitted to the crime, while begging for leniency.

    He said that he only obtained N5, 000 and N7, 500 from two people who approached him for assistance and lost their contacts when he was involved in an accident.

    On where he got the uniform in his possession, he said he had three sets and the one with him was the set he had in house as at the time he was disengaged.

  • How to stem road crashes, by FRSC chief

    How to stem road crashes, by FRSC chief

    HOW can the high rate of road accidents be stemmed? It is by ensuring that only tested motorists are behind the wheels, says the Lagos Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Hyginus Omeje.

    During a visit to the Ikeja Unit Command of the corps, Omeje noted that many vehicles that were not supposed to be on the road are found, manned by drivers using fake licence.

    He urged motorists to follow due process in obtaining the licence adding that accidents will reduce if motorists adhere strictly to the rules.

    Omeje maintained that the rate of accidents involving inexperienced drivers with fake licences is becoming worrisome.

    These unscrupulous motorists with little knowledge of the road obtain fake licence through touts, who charge them more than the normal fee, he said.

    The commission, he said, is committed to ending incessant accidents leading to the loss of lives and properties which are caused by inexperienced drivers.

    Omeje said short circuiting the process, would deny motorists the exposure to practical and theoretical tests before being given their driver’s licence.

    “Some of these drivers lack adequate knowledge guiding driving on the highways, including the traffic rules and regulations,” he said.

    Omeje however said there have been improved compliance to the procurement of licences at all the FRSC offices in Lagos by motorists, adding that the idea of sending proxies to procure it is abating.

    “More motorists are realising that the agency means business when we said it is an offence for anyone to obtain driver’s licence by proxy because it will be fake and anyone caught driving with fake or without a driver’s licence is risking imprisonment.”

    He debunked the claim that the licensing process is slow, accusing those behind such campaigns of believing in cutting corner to get things done.

    Omeje said the Command produced over 5,040 driver’s licence in January, appealing to motorists to follow due process in order to obtain the original document.

    He warned both Regular and Special Marshals to desist from collecting money from people to help them procure driver’s licence, saying any officer caught would be dismissed and prosecuted.

    The Ikeja Unit Commander, Mr Olawale Odekunle, said tough time awaits erring drivers as anyone caught would be sanctioned.

    The command, he said, is partnering with other agencies to end traffic congestion and lawlessness in the state.

  • How to stem road crashes, by FRSC chief

    How to stem road crashes, by FRSC chief

    OW can the high rate of road accidents be stemmed? It is by ensuring that only tested motorists are behind the wheels, says the Lagos Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Hyginus Omeje.

    During a visit to the Ikeja Unit Command of the corps, Omeje noted that many vehicles that were not supposed to be on the road are found, manned by drivers using fake licence.

    He urged motorists to follow due process in obtaining the licence adding that accidents will reduce if motorists adhere strictly to the rules.

    Omeje maintained that the rate of accidents involving inexperienced drivers with fake licences is becoming worrisome.

    These unscrupulous motorists with little knowledge of the road obtain fake licence through touts, who charge them more than the normal fee, he said.

    The commission, he said, is committed to ending incessant accidents leading to the loss of lives and properties which are caused by inexperienced drivers.

    Omeje said short circuiting the process, would deny motorists the exposure to practical and theoretical tests before being given their driver’s licence.

    “Some of these drivers lack adequate knowledge guiding driving on the highways, including the traffic rules and regulations,” he said.

    Omeje however said there have been improved compliance to the procurement of licences at all the FRSC offices in Lagos by motorists, adding that the idea of sending proxies to procure it is abating.

    “More motorists are realising that the agency means business when we said it is an offence for anyone to obtain driver’s licence by proxy because it will be fake and anyone caught driving with fake or without a driver’s licence is risking imprisonment.”

    He debunked the claim that the licensing process is slow, accusing those behind such campaigns of believing in cutting corner to get things done.

    Omeje said the Command produced over 5,040 driver’s licence in January, appealing to motorists to follow due process in order to obtain the original document.

    He warned both Regular and Special Marshals to desist from collecting money from people to help them procure driver’s licence, saying any officer caught would be dismissed and prosecuted.

    The Ikeja Unit Commander, Mr Olawale Odekunle, said tough time awaits erring drivers as anyone caught would be sanctioned.

    The command, he said, is partnering with other agencies to end traffic congestion and lawlessness in the state.