In line with the Federal Road Safety Corps’ (FRSC) mandate of
reducing road traffic crashes, as well as building a robust data base on
traffic matters in Nigeria, the Corps Marshal, Boboye Oyeyemi, recently
revealed in his Press briefing on FRSC activities with particular focus on
Sallah Special Patrol and commencement of the enforcement of Speed Limiting
Device that even though the Corps’ success in crash reduction between January
and August 2016 is an improvement of the figures recorded between the same
period in 2015, figures of crashes and road incidents are unacceptable and must
brought down significantly.
According to the Head Media Relations and Strategy of the Corps,
Bisi Kazeem, the Corps Marshal’s while deploying 20,000 personnel, 697
patrol vehicles, 283 motorbikes, 76 ambulances and 22 tow trucks for SALLAH
patrols opined that analysis showed that from January to August 2015, a total
of 5,953 crashes were recorded involving 39,119 people in which 3,233 of them
died and 17,189 others were rescued alive. However, within the same period in
2016, 5,707 crashes were recorded involving 38,222 people out of which 3,048
died and 17,446 others were rescued alive.
Other comparative analysis with regard to the Eid El Kabir traffic
revealed that the Corps recorded a total of 94 crashes involving 767 people out
of which 44 died and 312 others were rescued alive. Within the same period, 8,004
offenders were apprehended for 9,045 offences.
In the words of the Corps Marshal “between January to August 2015,
the Corps apprehended 339,551 offenders for 376.391 offences compared to
421,816 in the same respects, in 2016”. He lamented however that the Corps’s
interest is free – will compliance to road traffic laws and regulations, and
does not consider the upsurge in arrest as a positive.
Kazeem stressed that the Corps Marshal has, however, noted that
the success of the Corps is attributable to the findings of recent survey
conducted on public understanding of the Corps’ functions and consequent
support base which showed an increased from 51% and 52.3% in 2015, to about 57%
and 59% in 2016.
He stated that the Corps Marshal acknowledged the role of opinion
leaders and decision makers in the strides the Corps has made so far.
According to him, the Corps Marshal stated thus; “the Corps has
been able to engender unprecedented understanding and support from religious
organizations, traditional rulers, Federal Ministry of Power, Works and
Housing, Standards Organization of Nigeria, (SON), NADDC, NUPENG-PTD, RTEAN,
NURTW, and NARTO who have all taken their places as stakeholders in the road
safety endeavours by resolutely supporting the Corps in all ramifications.
In view of the foregoing, the Corps has relocated its Deputy Corps
Marshals and Assistant Corps Marshals alongside Corps Commanders to the field
where they are expected to boost the morale of Officers and Marshals on ground
for the 2016 Sallah Special Patrol where particular attention will also be paid
to critical corridors as the Lagos – Ibadan and Abuja – Kaduna Expressways as
well as the East West road.
The Corps Marshal used the opportunity to remind motorcyclists and
pedestrians of the need to be more vigilant while making use of the road. He
stressed that motorcyclists must use their safety helmets and comply with all
traffic regulations. He also called on Pedestrians to make use of the
Pedestrian Crossing facilities i.e. markings and bridges to avoid being knocked
down or run over.
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Society