FRSC Now To Bear Firearms

THE Federal Government has approved arms-
bearing for the men and officers of the Federal
Road Safety Corps following upsurge in violent
attacks and killing of some of its operatives during
legitimate duties.

This is coming on the sad revelation that the Corps
has lost over 70 of its personnel in 2016 alone as a
result of violent attacks by motorists at the course
of duties on highways.

Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of FRSC, Dr
Boboye Oyeyemi, made this known on Friday in
Abuja at the end of year management strategy
session as a way to assess the Corps stewardship
as well as ensuring effective service delivery.

He noted that the FRSC Establishment Act gives
power to the corps to bear arms and that the
Federal Government had earlier approved that, with
about 5,000 personnel already undergoing training
on firearms.

The Federal Government has however approved the
recruitment of about 450 personnel to beef up the
operational capacity of FRSC in prompt rescue
operations and enforcement drive.

Oyeyemi said: “The Act gives power to the Corps to
bear arms and 5,000 of our personnel have been
trained. We are just waiting for the validation of the
earlier approval.

“Sadly, within the one year, we have lost 70
personnel. It is sad to note that some killing and
maiming of operatives, including one from a sister
agency in close collaboration with the Corps were in
the course of official duties.

“A recent occurrence was the happening in Talata
Mafara, Zamfara State where a motorist ran into the
Mobile Court in session, killing three operatives
almost instantly while a Civil Defence operative died
later as a result of injuries sustained in the
dastardly act.

He, however, declared that the Corps would not give
up, ensuring that the mandate of making Nigerian
highways safer is achieved.

The Corps Marshal said he had since last year
raised the alarm that some Nigerian motorists were
becoming unusually violent, following rising cases
of wilful killings of some of the Corps’ operatives
on official duties.

He also revealed that at the end of week 47 of
2016, road crashes claimed the lives of 4,005
persons in Nigeria from 7,657 crashes as recorded
by the Corps.

He, however, pointed out that the Corps has
recorded 15 per cent reduction in road traffic
crashes and 25 per cent in fatality rate, during the
third quarter of 2016, saying this was an indication
that the Corps is making progress in the
campaigns.

He said: “For instance, as at September this year,
we have achieved 77.19 per cent of the expectation
in RTC reduction while 83.33 per cent was archived
in respect of fatality rate. We will not only keep
momentum but further accelerate achievement of
goals,” he said.

He also disclosed that the Corps has sacked 66
personnel (10 officers and 56 marshals) on issues
bothering on indiscipline, particularly inducement of
operatives by motorists to evade arrest and outright
extortion by operatives.

Oyeyemi added that 33 other personnel were had
their ranks reduced or lost of seniority as part of
disciplinary action on them.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation,
Engineer Babachir Lawal, reaffirmed the
commitment of the Federal Government in
supporting FRSC in achieving its mandate of
making Nigerian roads safe for the citizens.

He said the government has accordingly approved
the recruitment of 4350 personnel to boost the
operational capacity of the Corps.

Lawal who was represented by the Permanent
Secretary, Political and Economic Affairs,
Ambassador Olukunle Gbangbose, said the Federal
Government would ensure that FRSC is properly
equipped for effective service delivery while calling
on the top management of the Corps to begin to
think out of the box in addressing challenges faced.

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oyeyemi/