OPERATION EAGLE EYE- 161 DRIVERS CONVICTED BY FRSC MOBILE COURTS

About 161 recalcitrant drivers have been convicted for contravening road traffic-related offences by  mobile courts constituted by the Federal Road Safety Corps at designated locations in Uyo, Abeokuta, Makurdi, Abakiliki, Dutse and Damaturu as part of strategies towards enforcing traffic rules and regulations during the formal launch of this year’s Operation Eagle Eye across the country.

The erring motorists who were meant to pay fines ranging from N2,000 to  N10,000 or serve 2 months’ jail terms, were arraigned for violating about 639 traffic-related offences which had light and caution sign violation and non-possession of fire extinguishers as major traffic offences, among other violations during which 13 traffic offenders were discharged and acquitted.

In a related development, the FRSC Corps Marshal and Chief Executive, Osita Chidoka has described the traditional institution as veritable instrument for socio-cultural transformation and restoration of moral values in Nigeria.

The Corps Marshal made this declaration during the investiture of the Chairman of Ebonyi state Council of Traditional Rulers, Dr Eze Agom Eze as Honorary member of  special marshals in Ebonyi state.

Responding, Dr. Agom Eze frowned at the spate of recklessness among Nigerian drivers and total disregard for existing traffic laws and urged the FRSC management to re-double efforts in the area of drivers’ training in view of the influx of the nation’s highway by un-qualified drivers who can be described as ‘potent killers’ because they lack the requisite knowledge and skills for safer road use.

The Corps Marshal had earlier decorated the Ebonyi state Governor, Chief Martins Elechi and his wife, Chief Mrs Josephine Elechi as patrons of special marshals as part of  measures to explore the potentials of public officers and opinion moulders in the society in the strive towards entrenching sanity on the highways.

Addressing FRSC officers and men of the Ebonyi state Sector Command, the Corps Marshal recalled the FRSC has in its drive towards conforming with global best practices in road safety management, improved on its process, people and technology through numerous policy initiatives and project implementation such as the Call centre, Close-user-group communication, Data centre, specialist training programmes, the ISO 9001 certification,  a micro finance bank, promotion exams, staff optimization and housing projects on owner-occupier arrangement.

He charged Corps’ staff in the state to take vigorous steps towards addressing some prevailing  road vices such as non-use of safety helmet and seat belt, use of mobile phone while driving, speed violation, use of worn-out tyres and drunk driving.