The
attention of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has been drawn to the
insinuations being made by some members of the public consequent upon its
recent directives on booking of certain traffic offences including Fire
Extinguishers, Light Signs Violation and Caution sign.
According
to Bisi Kazeem,Head, Media Relations and Strategy, FRSC, in a press release,
the suspension was temporarily done in the light of the observations by
the operations department of the FRSC National Headquarters to the effect that
these offences were secondary offences which should not take precedence over
the primary offences especially during the operations zero when the operational
focus was on ensuring free flow of traffic and avoidance of anything that could
undermine it.
Consequently,
it must be further stated that the directive was in no way meant to permanently
stop the FRSC patrol teams from enforcing laws on non possession of fire
extinguishers, Light and Caution signs on motorists that violate them as
provided for in the FRSC Booking Sheet.
In
the circular issued today by the FRSC to further clarify the Corps' stand on
the directives, the Deputy Corps Marshal in charge of Operations, Ojeme
Ewhrudjakpor stated that the suspension of booking of fire extinguisher (FEV),
Light Sign Violation (LSV) and Caution Sign (VSC) was for one month of
operation Zero (16 December 2016 to 16 January 2017 when the focus was on free
flow of traffic. "The suspension was therefore part of the activities and
directives to Commands of the FRSC to ensure non-impediment to the free flow of
traffic with the anticipated high vehicular movements," the circular
stated.
"For
the avoidance of doubt, these offences are secondary offences that would be
booked alongside primary infractions," it added.
Deputy
Corps Marshal Ojeme further stated that the suspension of the booking of the
offences will be lifted at the termination of the ongoing operation zero on 15
January 2017 as directed by the Corps Marshal who is the Grand Commander of the
operation.
It
would be recalled that Corps Marshal Boboye Oyeyemi had earlier given
clarification on the directives when he urged Nigerians not to misinterpret the
content of the earlier circular that was leaked to the press a few days ago and
widely circulated on social media. The earlier circular signed by Deputy Corps
Marshal, Ojeme Ewhrudjakpor, on behalf of the Corps Marshal, directed commands
of the FRSC across the country to avoid booking drivers for the offences of
fire extinguisher, Light signs Violation and Caution Signs, which some
motorists enthusiastically welcomed as a relief and applauded the FRSC for the
measure.
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Society