Security

As part of preparations towards ensuring a smooth conduct of the forthcoming Osun State gubernatorial elections scheduled to hold on Saturday, the Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi has ordered the deployment of 1,500 personnel to the state.

Dr Oyeyemi charged the operatives of the corps drafted to cover the election to ensure effective collaboration with the Nigerian Police Force, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and other security agencies in the enforcement of restrictions on vehicular movement.

This was disclosed in a statement by the Corps Public Education Officer, Mr Bisi Kazeem.

Dr Oyeyemi said the corps’ operatives drafted to cover the election have equally been mandated to clear obstructions from the roads, carry out rescue operations in case of emergencies, and maintain orderliness at polling booths.

He explained that apart from the deployment of 1500 personnel, the Corps Marshal also ordered the deployment of 35 vehicles including tow trucks, ambulances to strengthen the enforcement of restriction of movement during the entire process of the election.

The FRSC boss warned the deployed personnel to exhibit the highest sense of professionalism, ingenuity, and avoid any temptation that could lead to the abuse of the rights of electorates.

While reading out the marching order to the personnel, the Corps Marshal called on the electorates in the state to comply with all regulations including restrictions that may be announced as he wished the entire state a peaceful, free and fair elections.

Mojisola Oladele

Transportation

The Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi has felicitated with Christians on the occasion of this year’s Easter celebrations, and called on all motorists to ensure full compliance with all road traffic laws.

He made the call in a statement issued by the Corps Public Education Officer, Mr Bisi Kazeem.

According to the statement, all personnel have been adequately briefed on the imperative of ensuring that motorists are made to drive in accordance with the stipulations of the Nigerian Highway Code and other regulations.

Dr Oyeyemi urged Christians to manifest love, care and obedience to established laws so as to portray the lessons of the season in a positive light.

He noted that the Corps will continue to sustain every arrangement already in place to ensure the safety of all road users, including aggressive public education campaigns and effective deployment of operational materials to enforce law and order.

He warned drivers to desist from all forms of overloading of vehicles either with persons, animals or with goods and excessive speeding among other bad road use behaviours.

While urging them to exhibit more tolerance and imbibe patience, the Corps Marshal further called on Nigerians to cooperate with law enforcement agents and ensure maximum compliance with all established rules so as to avoid the wrath of the law.

Dr Oyeyemi wishes all travelers a happy and safe celebration while urging them to call the FRSC call centre through the toll free line: 122 to report any emergencies.

Maxwell Oyekunle

Security

Some Gunmen have attacked a Federal Road Safety Corps patrol team in Anambra State, killing two operatives and injuring the unit commander.

The team was reportedly conducting a routine patrol operation along Igbo-Uku- Uga route at about 2.45pm on Sunday when the gunmen opened fire on the driver and two other officials while the fourth official escaped into the bush.

The Corps Education Officer, Bisi Kazeem, confirmed the incident in a statement, titled, ‘Two operatives shot dead as unknown gunmen attack FRSC patrol team in Anambra State.’

It said the team leader, who sustained injuries, was rushed to a hospital for treatment.

The statement read, “The Corps Marshal, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, who was visibly touched decried the attack while condoling with the families of the deceased staff, the unit commander and staff of Igbo-Uku command, and the entire management and staff of the corps over the loss and prayed for their souls to rest in peace.”

The statement says the corps is working with the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to ensure that the attackers are arrested and brought to justice.

NET/Olaolu Fawole

Transportation

Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi has approved the redeployment of Officers, in the capacity of Deputy Corps Marshals, Assistant Corps Marshals, Corps Commanders, Deputy Corps Commanders and intermediate ranks.

In a statement by FRSC spokesperson, Bisi Kazeem, said the redeployment, which was a routine exercise, would bolster the system for superior performance and efficiency,

He added that apart from Jos Kaduna, Ilorin,  Benin , Portharcourt and Jos   Zonal Commands, all other Zonal Commanding Officers remain in their respective Commands of influence.

The Corps Marshal admonished the redeployed officers to double up their efforts, and remain steadfast in their commitment and dedication to duties and to share in the FRSC vision of making Nigerian roads safer.

FRCN Abuja

Transportation

The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Dr Boboye Oyeyemi has urged Nigerians to drive safely and stay safe as they enter into the new year, saying all bad driving habits should be discarded while the good lessons learnt and practised during the outgoing year should be sustained with a commitment to ensuring personal safety and health of the individuals.

This is contained in the New Year message to Nigerians by the Corps Marshal of FRSC as part of the ongoing sensitization efforts by the Corps to curtail the spread of COVID-19 and ensuring public safety through adherence to traffic rules and regulations.

According to a press release signed by the Corps Public Education Officer, Assistant Corps Marshal Bisi Kazeem, the Corps Marshal expressed gratitude to the Almighty God for the grace of protection and guidance given to the nation in the face of the various health, safety and security challenges experienced in the outgoing year.

He therefore, appealed for sustained consciousness by people to overcome the challenges in the New Year.

The Corps Marshal particularly enjoined members of the public not to violate the guidelines put in place by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, stressing the need for people to regularly wash their hands with soap, wear face masks and observe social distancing.

These he said, remain the best preventive measures against the infectious disease threatening the entire world through the second wave of the pandemic.

 “We must remain vigilant in all that we do, to avoid a situation where our actions and inactions could contribute to the spread of the dreaded disease,” he stated.

The Press Release further discloses that though the Corps Marshal was pleased with the conduct of most drivers during the recent Christmas celebration which made the rate and fatalities of road traffic crashes manageable.

 He however cautioned that if such good habits were not sustained in the New Year, there could be a resurgence of crash situation which could undermine the gains made from the special patrol.

“Every Nigerian must remain committed to tackling the challenges which road safety and COVID-19 pose to the nation’s health,  safely, security and wellbeing by doing what is right at all times,” he further stated.

On the most common factors responsible for fatal crashes during the Christmas celebration, the Corps Marshal restated his earlier observations on the pervasiveness of speeding as a causative factor, noting that Commanding Officers have been given a marching order to force down the rate of speed induced crashes through aggressive enforcement of the laws on speed limiting device.

“The discovery that some Nigerians are still flouting the law on use of speed limiting devices in their vehicles resulting in the upsurge in speed related crashes recorded during the special patrol was unfortunate. But I want to assure all road users that such abdication of responsibility by the drivers would not be tolerated in the New Year, “he warns.

Oyeyemi commended all the stakeholders that joined the road safety campaigns during the festive periods to make the roads safer, adding that road safety remains a shared responsibility which no single organisation can tackle all alone without support and collaboration of relevant stakeholders.

He specially expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR for rendering all necessary moral and logistics support for the success of the campaigns with particular reference to prompt approval by the Federal Government to the third edition of the Nigeria Road Safety Strategy Document which will increase the impetus of road safety sensitisation programmes in the New Year.

The FRSC Corps Marshal called on all Nigerians to embrace the ongoing safer road campaign and make it an all round success for quick socioeconomic development of the nation.

He also reminded Nigerians that it’s only the living that can celebrate, stressing that speeding must be contained by all means, despite its thrilling effects.

While admonishing Nigerians on their personal responsibility to the campaigns to make the roads safer, Oyeyemi further urged the people to remain active by always observing the traffic rules and regulations and reporting road and other emergencies promptly to the FRSC toll free line: 122 or the studios of the National Traffic Radio-107.1fm through the telephone lines: 08052998090 or 09067000015 for prompt response.

As he wished all Nigerians safer and prosperous new year, the Corps Marshal assured the nation that FRSC would continue to be vigilant in safeguarding the roads throughout the new year and beyond for safety and security of the people.

He further appealed to all to abide by the safety measures put in place to guarantee safety and security of all members of the public.

Rasheeda Makinde

Transportation

Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC Corps Marshall, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi has called on the patrol teams of the corps to put in more efforts at ensuring hitch-free movement, especially during the festive season.

Dr Oyeyemi stated this in Ibadan when he made a working visit to Oyo State Sector Command to sensitize the officers on end of the year activities.

He stated further that the corps had approved disbursement of heavy duty tow trucks and patrol vehicles to ensure free flow of traffic and clearing of damaged or abandoned vehicles on the roads.

The FRSC noted that the corps have a sustained an advocacy and education on safe driving, while the corps had provided palliative measures for patrol teams.

Dr Oyeyemi called on motorists plying challenge, Iwo Road, Ife Road and Lagos/Ibadan expressways which are traffic-prone areas to always drive with caution and follow all safety rules to achieve a hitch-free festive period.

The FRSC therefore appreciated the collaboration of some security agencies and stakeholders in collectively fight against road mishaps.

Rasheedah Makinde

Transportation

Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Corps Marshall, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi has called on the patrol team of the corps to put in more efforts at ensuring a hitch-free movement, especially during the festive season.

Dr Oyeyemi stated this in Ibadan when he made a working visit to Oyo State Sector Command to sensitize the officers on end of the year activities.

He stated further that the corps had approved disbursement of heavy duty tow trucks and patrol vehicles to ensure free flow of traffic and clearing of damaged or abandoned vehicles on the roads.

Dr Oyeyemi noted that the men of the corps have a sustained advocacy and education on safe driving, and the command had provided palliative measures for patrol teams.

Dr Oyeyemi called on motorists plying Challenge, Iwo Road, Ife Road and Lagos/ Ibadan express ways, which are traffic prone areas to always drive with caution and follow Safety rules to achieve a hitch free festive period.

The FRSC boss appreciated the collaboration of some security agencies and stakeholders in collectively fighting against road mishaps.

Rasheeda Makinde