Tag: FRSC

Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Lagos State has inaugurated the rebuilt office of the Unit Commander at RS2.15 in Ojota.

The structure was rebuilt through the efforts of community stakeholders, corporate donors, and special marshalls.

At the event were senior Corps officials, community leaders, and special guests from the private sector united in strengthening the foundation for safer roads and improved service delivery.

Sector Commander, Ganiyu Hamzat, said the new office is  significant beyond its physical structure.

“I am delighted to commission this reconstructed unit commander’s office,” Hamzat noted. “But I want us to understand that this building is a symbol of efficiency, leadership, and service. When a unit head has a conducive environment, better decisions are made, communication flows well, and ultimately, lives are saved on our roads.”

Hamzat thanked those who contributed to the project, including GADO unit, Sanusi Estate, Gidan Kifi, Mile 12 international market and special marshalls of RS2.15 at Ojota, who ‘‘demonstrated commitment to the Corps’ mission.

Read Also: FRSC redeploys senior officers, appoints new sector commanders

“Safety is a shared responsibility. This structure was built by those, who believe in the vision of safer roads. I urge other community members and corporate bodies to invest more in road safety initiatives, rather than channelling resources into unproductive activities.”

The Sector commander also spoke on challenges of the command – staffing and finance, noting collaborative efforts with government and non-governmental organisations remain the key to achieving safer roads in Lagos.

“No agency has all the resources it needs, but we are not resting. We work with the tools available. Still, we’re always looking to strengthen our network with government agencies, civil society, and the private sector,” Hamzat said.

“What we do is not just about enforcement, it’s hospitality and service. That’s why we work with the Police, LASMA, LASEMA and regular citizens. Only by working together can we create the synergy to reduce crashes and save lives.”

Unit Commander of RS2.15 in Ojota, Toyin Oladoke, lauded everyone who made this possible. “This building represents not just concrete and paint, but trust and belief in our mission,” she said.

Commander Oladoke, who has been applauded for her effective management of the unit also took a moment to acknowledge her team “I dedicate this moment to the hardworking men and women of the Ojota Unit Command. Your resilience and passion for road safety keep this command strong. This new structure is a boost, it will allow us to plan better and serve better.”

She also used the platform to encourage the general public to continue engaging with the FRSC in positive ways.

“The success of any road safety campaign rests on the willingness of the people to listen, to change, and to support. We urge everyone to do their part, whether as drivers, pedestrians, or community leaders, because road safety is not optional, it’s essential.”

Following the speeches and acknowledgements, Corps Commander Hamzat led the ceremonial ribbon-cutting and unveiled the commemorative plaque attached to the building.

 “Let today not be the end, but the beginning of greater synergy between the FRSC and the people. Let us all become ambassadors of road safety, in word and in deed. Together, we can ensure safer roads and a brighter future” He concluded.

The new appointed Lagos and Ogun Zonal Commanding officer of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) CC Ann Oluwakemi Oladayo-Odeleye has on Monday, May 5, 2024 assumed duty officially in a colorful ceremony.

She was officially received by the Zone’s senior officers and Special Marshals, led by Lagos State Sector  Commander, CC Ganiyu Kehinde Hamzat, his Ogun State counterpart, CC Akinwumi Fasakin with full ceremonial honours and a Quarter Guard, at the Zone’s Headquarters in Ojodu, before proceeded to address on parade.

While expressing her gratitude to the Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed for entrusting her with the leadership role, pledged to lead through collaboration, working closely with her team to achieve the Corps’ vision and meet the 2025 Strategic Goals.

Read Also: FRSC confirms five dead, 13 injured in Gombe accident

As the first female to occupy the position in the Zone’s history since its creation since 1988, vowed to lead the Zone with discipline, innovation, results-driven approach that will bring renewed energy and direction to the zone, driving operational excellence and further enhancing the FRSC’s mission.

At the parade ground, she highlighted her leadership priorities to be: “Full implementation of the 2025 Strategic Goals of the Corps; Integration of technology to boost operational efficiency; Promotion of discipline;  professionalism, and inclusivity; Focus on staff welfare; recognition of excellence; Strengthened collaboration with relevant stakeholders, Special Marshals and other security agencies for efficient and effective service delivery.

“Lagos is for work. And under my leadership, we will deliver results with unity, discipline, and innovation.”

“My appointment will mark a significant milestone in the advancement of inclusive leadership within the Federal Road Safety Corps.

Less than six hours after a fatal crash involving three vehicles claimed seven lives and left four others injured on the Ogun State axis of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, another deadly accident occurred along the Sagamu–Ikorodu road, killing 18 people, including an officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and injuring four others on the same day.

The FRSC chief Route Commander and Public Education Officer for the Sector Commander in Ogun State, Florence Okpe, confirmed the incidents in a statement on behalf of Sector Commander Fasakin Akinwumi.

According to Okpe, the tragedy on the Sagamu–Ikorodu road worsened when a vehicle lost its brakes and rammed into FRSC officials conducting a rescue operation at the scene, killing one of the officers.

She added that the injured victims were rushed to Dasochris Hospital, Gbaga, while the remains of the deceased were deposited at Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu.

Okpe stated, “FRSC Mosimi unit Command carried out rescue operation on Ikorodu – Sagamu road on a crash that occurred on Saturday 5 April at about 1600 hrs.

Read Also: FRSC hands N10m goods recovered from accident scene to owners

The crash involved seven vehicles with registration numbers as follows:

AGL752YC (Toyota Hiace bus),

T14007LA (Daf truck), HT680 (Honda car), unmarked Daf truck, a pickup marked STF10204, AGG448Q (motor bike) and PKA214WS(Bajaj bike).

“A total of 22 people were involved in the multiple crash ( 14 male , 6 female and 01 child) 04 people were injured and

18 persons were killed including one of the rescue officer who happened to be an FRSC personnel.

“This happened when vehicle one and two crashed and the FRSC rescue team were carrying out the rescue operation when another vehicle ran into them as a result of brake failure and killed FRSC staff.

“The injured victims were taken to Dasochris Hospital Gbaga while the deceased were deposited at OOUTH.

“The Sector Commander is pained over the recklessness of drivers and the number of crashes recorded today and is attributed to speed and brake failure.

“He advised motorists to drive within the stipulated speed limit and observe road signs as well.”

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Ondo State Sector Command, has handed over goods worth N10 million recovered from an accident scene to the family of the victim.

Speaking yesterday in Akure while handing over the goods, Dr Samuel Ibitoye, the Sector Commander, said the gesture was part of the corps’ transparency, honesty and passionate efforts.

Ibitoye said that the accident which occurred on March 23, at about 7.00am around checkpoint at Igbara-Oke in Ifedore Local Government Area of the state, involved a commercial bus and a trailer.

The sector commander who said that no life was lost, explained that the victims sustained serious injuries on the legs and hands.

Ibitoye attributed the cause of the accident to speeding, leading to rear collision on the part of the commercial bus.

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“So, we are here to handover the recovered items; load of bags, to the owners through the union leader that came to collect them on behalf of the owners.

“According to the owners, the goods were over N10 million which contained fabrics and many other valuable items, transported from Kano to Ibadan, Oyo State.

“So, FRSC as an organisation full of integrity, and trained to be transparent, honest, loyal and passionate to the people.

“In any crash, FRSC will ensure that even if it is a pin inside the vehicle, it will be delivered to his or her owners or their families, and nothing will get missing,” he said.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has urged States and relevant authorities to step up enforcement of road safety regulations, particularly regarding truck standards and driver behavior. 

The FRSC spokesman, Olusegun Ogungbemide, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

He expressed concerns over the poor condition of trucks on Nigerian roads, citing issues like poor vehicle maintenance, speeding, and disregard for traffic regulations as contributing factors to road accidents. 

Addressing concerns following the recent tanker explosion on the Nyanya–Mararaba expressway, Ogungbemide said that the crash was caused by a cement-laden Dangote truck.

”The truck’s brakes failed, causing it to collide with vehicles in a gridlock, sparking a fatal inferno.

“At the time of rescue operations, our priority was evacuation. But from preliminary investigations, it was not a CNG truck,” he said.

Ogungbemide said Nigeria does not have a national policy on restricting the movement of articulated vehicles during specific hours, leaving states to devise their own controls.

“At the national level, there is no policy that determine when trucks and tankers are expected to move. There’s no restriction of movements.

“The concerns of the Federal Government is the safety of all vehicles while on the road which FRSC, the lead agency in roads safety management has been doing.

“I am aware that different states, now have their own regulations as regards movement of vehicles that are articulated ones.

“One of such regulations is to increase the trip time and also to reduce the rate of crashes involving this articulated vehicles.

“I can tell you that after that incident in Nyanya-Mararaba, we got to know that the FCT has a regulation tat between 3p.m. and 10p.m., articulated vehicles are expected to stay off the highway.

“This is expected to be the peak period when people are returning home and it also states that the early hours too, between 6am and 12pm in the morning they are also expected to stay off the highway.

“I also know that our FCT command has also been working with other agencies to get this implemented but the strength of that enforcement is what i cannot really say now,” he said.

Read Also: ‘1,613 died in tanker explosions in 15 years’

Ogungbemide maintained that all the policies the FRSC had put in place over the years have reduced the rate of crashes involving those categories of vehicles.

He, however, added that due to the difficulty in stopping moving trucks, particularly those carrying inflammable content, the FRSC collaborated with loading depots.

According to him, these vehicles have outlived their usefulness and posed significant hazards on Nigerian highways, but the FRSC policies have really assisted us.

“One of such is the Corps’ Road Transport Safety Standardisation Scheme (RTSSS), introduced in 2007, which remains a key framework for regulating fleet operators with more than five vehicles.

“No petroleum, diesel, or gas truck is expected to be loaded without our safety clearance. We now emphasise pre-loading checks to prevent unsafe trucks from hitting the road.

“Operators under the scheme are monitored, their vehicles inspected regularly, and drivers trained. It’s part of our long-term solution to articulated vehicle crashes,” he added.

Ogungbemide warned that no safety policy can succeed without first addressing the quality of vehicles being allowed into the country.

The FRSC spokesperson stressed that the high dependence on road transport, due to weak alternatives like rail and waterways, continued to put enormous pressure on the highway network.

“Until other modes of transport are developed, the risks on our roads will remain high. But we are doing all we can with the tools we have,”he said.

Ogungbemide said the corps would release the full report on the Nyanya–Mararaba crash investigation once concluded.

He reaffirmed the FRSC’s commitment to safer highways across the country.

(NAN)