The Federal Road Safety Corps said it has deployed 42,000 personnel, comprising 28,000 Regular and 14,000 special marshals, to the highways to ensure hitch-free vehicler movement during Christmas and New Year’s celebration.
The corps further stated that it deployed 157 administrative vehicles, 754 patrol vehicles, 143 ambulances, and 48 tow trucks for the season.
The spokesman of the FRSC, Assistant Corps Marshal Olusegun Ogungbemide, said while fielding questions at a press briefing of the Strategic Communications Interagency Policy Committee in the Office of the National Security Adviser in Abuja that the Corps had begun lecture on “Zero Tolerance” to road crashes which begun on Sunday and would end by January 15, 2025.
He said: “The deployment of men already commenced. We have about 42,000 men – that is 28,000 regulars and 14,000 special marshals – that are already deployed for this exercise. This is because if you look at the fatality that is recorded, it is quite alarming and it means all hands must be on deck. The system has actually realised that there is nothing we can do on our own as an establishment, alone, without carrying other agencies along. So we are going to collaborate with other agencies.
“ The theme for this year is “Speak out against Reckless Driving”. We also feel that there is nothing we can do without the cooperation of the commuters, because more commuters are killed than drivers. We have many reference points like the incident that happened at Jigàwa, where only one driver caused the death of over 200 people.we have so many requests on, like this day that happened at Dela, only one driver led to the death of more than 200 people.
“So, Wherever you are, and you are are commuting in a way that the driver is driving recklessly drive his vehicle, it is expected of you to speak up. People say drivers don’t listen. But why don’t you plant the seed first? Just register the fact that you are concerned about your own safety.”
“And for emergency purpose we have our toll-free 123 number, which is going to operate 24 hours. Our response time is 15 minutes.”
Giving further details in a statement, the FRSC spokesman said the Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, has also directed Commanding Officers to ensure 24 hours observatory along high volume traffic/gridlock prone areas, “full mobilization of 23 Help Areas, adequate utilisation of 59 Emergency Ambulance (Zebra) Points, full mobilization of Road Side (RTC) Clinics, and 24/7 broadcast on National Traffic Radio 107.1 FM.”
He said the “Operation Zero Tolerance” has been programmed to run in shifts as follows: 0600hrs – 1400hrs, 1400HRS – 2000hrs, 2000hrs – 2200hrs, and Night Rescue teams on standby at all operational Commands is billed to cover the following critical corridors; Sokoto-Tambuwal-Jega-Birnin Kebbi corridor, Katsina-Kano-Wudil-Dutse-Azare-Potiskum corridor, Kaduna-Saminaka-Jos corridor, Abuja-Kaduna-Kano corridor, Okene-Ogori-Isua-Owo corridor, Makurdi-Otukpo-Obollo Afor-9th Mile corridor, Asaba-Abraka-Ughelli-Warri corridor, Ibadan-Ogere-Sagamu corridor, Sagamu-Mowe-Lagos corridor, amongst others.
He said: “The Corps Marshal emphasised that the enforcement is aimed at checkmating Excessive speed, Overloading, Dangerous Driving/Overtaking, Lane indiscipline/Route violation, Road Obstructions, Use of phone while driving, overloading violation, Seat Belt/Child restraint Use Violations, Passengers’ Manifest Violations, Mechanically Deficient Vehicles, Latching and Twist-Locks Violations.
“In addition to the foregoing, the Corps Marshal also directed the massive constitution of Mobile Courts across the Nation. The directive also mandates the Commanding Officers to ensure effective collaboration with Military Units, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Directorate of State Services (DSS), NGO Ambulance Service Providers, National Network on Emergency Road Services (NNERS), and the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA).”
