By Thompson Yamput
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has deployed 500 personnel, 17 vehicles and three ambulance vehicles to check accidents on the highways during Eid el-Kabir.
Mr Samuel Oyedeji, Kogi FRSC Sector Commander, announced this while briefing newsmen on behalf of the Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, at the command’s premises in Lokoja on Friday.
He explained that the deployment follows the order of the Corp Marshal, who he said was worried over the level of road accidents in the country.
“This is in line with the Operational order for 2024 Eid- el- Kabir Special Patrol operations from June 14 to June 21, hence the deployment of 500 personnel throughout the state with special marshals.
“Also 17 patrol vehicles, one heavy tow truck, three ambulances and one motorbike to help guarantee safety of motorists and those transiting through the state during the period.
“The enforcement shall focus on speeding and dangerous driving/overtaking, lane indiscipline/route violation, road obstructions, use of phone while driving, overloading, seatbelt/child restraint use violations and loading of articulated vehicles with goods and passengers, among others,” he said.
Oyedeji said that to achieve this milestone, the state command and all its component unit commands had put in place measures to engage the motoring public through purposeful and impactful public education programmes.
He added that the command would ensure an effective patrol operations, as well as adequate monitoring on the highways.
Oyedeji advised road users to guide their conducts and maintain good behaviours on the highways.
He cautioned the drivers of commercial vehicles, trucks and articulated vehicles to avoid night travel and overloading.
“This is why FRSC is in collaboration with the Nigerian Bar Association and state judiciaries for timely prosecution of drivers and vehicle owners caught in the act of contravening established traffic regulations.
“These unacceptable acts led to the flag-off of the Inter-Agency Joint Task Force (JTF) to enforce compliance against use of trailers conveying passengers as well as mitigate road traffic accidents, fatalities and injuries emanating from the lawlessness of articulated vehicle drivers.
”The JTF has successfully arrested a total of 222 trailers loaded with 3169 passengers hanging on top of goods and animals.
“As part of the operations, the JTF dropped over 2440 passengers who were mandated to take alternative vehicles designed for conveying passengers, he said. NAN
