*Nigeria’s Federal Road Safety Corps says it is ready to impound vehicles, and prosecute any commercial driver whose vehicle does not have a speed limiting device, among other safety measures, during Yuletide and New Year celebrations

*Corps partners with Oyo State to address traffic challenges impacting the state and environs

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

As the festive season approaches, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has warned motorists against flouting established safety rules capable of putting other road users in danger, especially during Christmas and New Year celebrations.

ConsumerConnect reports Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi, Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of FRSC, handed down this warning in Lagos as part of his tour of the West African country to inspect the level of preparedness of the Corps officers for the end-of-the-year (Ember Months) patrol operations.

Dr. Oyeyemi noted that the Lagos─Ibadan Expressway would be free of obstruction, because of the high vehicular activities around the axis during the period.

The Corps Marshal stated: “Lagos accounts for high vehicular density. We have about 33% of vehicles outbound Lagos and 40% drivers.”

According to him, officers and men of the Corps are prepared for the Yuletide in Nigeria.

In regard to statistics on safety on Nigerian roads, data indicated that between 2010 and October 2021, at least 479,580 persons were involved in road crashes in which 67,508 people killed in the process.

Likewise, overspeeding was reported to have accounted for 52 percent of that figure.

Oyeyemi urged road users to comply with traffic rules and regulations while he assured that the FRSC would prosecute any commercial driver whose vehicle does not have a speed limiting device and his vehicle impounded.

He also advised consumers to observe other road safety measures by watching out for infractions, such as overloading, driving without a valid licence, and using rickety vehicles for long journeys in the country.

The Corps Marshal frowned on driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, as he urged motorists to avoid night travels.

He assured Nigerians that the Corps would endeavour to prevent and minimise road traffic crashes during the celebration period.

“It’s a presidential approval, it’s what the law says, preventing and minimising road traffic crashes. How that is done by the federal road safety corps is my business.

“If you’re dead drunk while driving, we have about 25 help areas at strategic locations, the driver will sleep, when he wakes up, we will arrange for his vehicle to be taken to the next destination and the driver will be prosecuted,” stated he.

Corps partners with Oyo State to address traffic challenges

In a related development, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has said his administration would continue to cooperate with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to address traffic challenges that impact the state and its environs.

Governor Makinde, said this Wednesday, December 22, 2021, at the Oyo State Secretariat, Agodi, in Ibadan, when he received the top echelon of the FRSC, led by Dr. Oyeyemi, who paid him a courtesy visit.

Makinde described the cooperation between the his state and FRSC as a good development and a step in the right direction.

Addressing reporters in company of Dr. Oyeyemi and other officers of the FRSC, the Oyo State Governor noted that it is important for states to collaborate with the Federal Government and its agencies in order to resolve issues that affect their local environments in Nigeria.

Makinde also said: “Road safety actually started in Oyo State, so we can take ownership. But today, they are a federal agency and we are talking about issues and challenges that impact our local environment. It is one of the hallmarks of that type of cooperation for the federal government, federal agency and state government coming together to resolve such issues.”

Again, the FRSC Corps Marshal earlier on arrival in the state had indicated that the agency was in Oyo State for a review of the agency’s road traffic plan for the Yuletide with the governor.

Oyeyemi assured the governor that with the structure already put in place by the agency, there would be smooth flow of traffic during the festive period and urged residents to comply with traffic regulations.

“We have deployed some more vehicles to the state, we have opened more unit commands, the Iseyin Unit Command has been opened.

“So we have more commands within the state, not only in Ibadan. Some of the commands within the fringes of the state like Egbeda, we’ve provided new vehicles for them because this is a partnership between me and His Excellency to further improve road safety administration,” FRSC Chief stated.

Corps deploys of 1,181 marshals in Cross River

The Cross River Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps Friday also said a total of 1,181 personnel had been deployed across the state so as to ensure safety on the roads during the Christmas and New Year celebrations in the South-South Nigeria.

Mrs. Elizabeth Akinlade, Sector Commander of FRSC in Cross River State, disclosed this in a statement issued in Calabar, the state capital.

These include, 341 regular Marshals and 840 Special Marshals, the statement noted.

Akinlade said: “In addition to this, the command had earlier embarked on aggressive Public Enlightenment Campaigns at various motor parks and garages to ensure that drivers adhere to road safety rules and regulations.”

The Sector Commander further warned that offences, such as “over-speeding, dangerous driving, overloading, route violation, use of mobile phones while driving, drunk driving among others” will not be tolerated.

The Corps as well would make use of breathalyzers to detect drink driving for appropriate sanctions, Akinlade stated.

She, therefore, urged all road users in the state, during the yuletide period, to ensure strict obedience to traffic rules and regulations for safety of lives and property.