FRSC ADMITTED AS MEMBER OF OYO STATE SECURITY COUNCIL

The Oyo State Sector Command of the FRSC has been admitted as member of the Oyo State Security Council. The approval was given by the Executive Governor of the State, Chief (Dr.) Christopher Alao Akala via a letter referenced SAS/07/19/6 and dated 5th March 2008. By this admittance, the FRSC Oyo State Sector Command is expected to contribute its own quota as they relate to road safety matters in ensuring security of lives and property of the people of Oyo State. The Sector Commander, DU Mendie (CC) has already extended the appreciation of the Commission for the gesture by the State Government and promised that FRSC will fulfil its own obligatory role in the Council.

FRSC CORPS MARSHAL TOURS FRSC COMMANDS IN ZONE 4

The Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of the Federal Road Safety Commission, Osita Chidoka on Monday 16th June 2008 embarked on a familiarization tour of FRSC formations in Zone 4 comprising Plateau, Nasarawa, Benue and Bauchi States. The tour which is the Corps Marshals first official visit to FRSC formations in the Zone started on Monday 16th June to Thursday, June 19, 2008. During the visit, the Corps Marshal paid courtesy calls on the Governors of Plateau, Nasarawa, Benue and Bauchi States to open further channels of cooperation and strengthen the already cordial relationship existing between FRSC and the various states’ Governments. The Corps Marshal also called on Traditional Rulers in the respective States to solicit support and cooperation from the grassroot on issues of road safety. The Corps Marshal was accompanied on the visit by other Senior Officers of the Commission including the Assistant Corps Marshal in charge of Operations, AK Browne the Assistant Corps Marshal, Special Marshal and Partnership, E.O. Anyaoku, the Principal Staff Officer to the Chief Executive, J. Asom (CC) and many other senior officers.

FRSC NYANYA UNIT COMMAND LAUNCHES SPECIAL PATROL FOR MOTORBIKES

The Nyanya Unit Command of the FRSC has launched a special patrol exercise aimed at enforcing the use of Side Mirrors and Number Plates by all motor bike operators otherwise called “OKADA” in the area. The Special patrol which kicked off on Monday 16th June 2008 according to the Unit Commander of the Command, Apochi, OG (ACC) is expected to last until full compliance is achieved. The Unit Command hinted that it has become fashionable for “okada” riders in the area to operate without number plates and side mirrors causing a lot of security concern to the entire operational area. He also noted that these illegal acts have accounted for the numerous robbery cases recorded in the area and the Unit Command is totally committed to leaving no stone unturned until the ugly situation is sanitized.

It will be recalled that, the Nyanya Unit Command in the past one month has collaborated with the Nigeria Army and other security agencies with the support of the Karu Local Government Authorities in enforcing the effective use of the overhead pedestrian bridges located along the Nyanya Keffi Road which has attained tremendous success.

FRSC ORGANISES MANAGEMENT RETREAT FOR COMMANDING OFICERS

The Federal Road safety Commission Headquarters has organized a management retreat for its Commanding Officers throughout the Country. The Retreat which was held at the Rockview Hotel in Abuja and chaired by the Corps Marshal and Chief Executive was attended by the entire Management staff of the Commission. Others in attendance included all Zonal Commanding Officers and Sector Commanders. The purpose of the retreat was to repositioning the FRSC Management and top brass on issues that relate to effective human resource and traffic management in the face of numerous challenges of modernization.

AKWA IBOM STATE GOVT. APPLAUDS FRSC OPERATIONS IN THE STATE

The operations of FRSC in Akwa Ibom has been applauded by the State Governor, His Excellency Prince Godswill Akpabio. The commendation was publicly made by the Governor when the Zonal Commanding Officer Zone 6, AA Abu (Assistant Corps Marshal) paid a courtesy call on the Governor on Monday 29th May 2008 in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital. The Governor praised the operations of the FRSC in their effort towards the prevention and control of road traffic accidents in the state. As a mark of appreciation of the Commission’s good works in the state, the Governor used the occasion to announce a donation of two ambulance vehicles to the Sector Command to help boost its rescue operations. The Zonal Commanding Officer was accompanied on the visit by the Sector Commander of the FRSC Akwa Ibom State, A Osadebamwen (DCC).

46 SOLDIERS DIE IN AUTO CRASH AT DAMATURU-POTISKUM ROAD

About forty-six Nigerian soldiers returning from Peace-Keeping Operations in the central Sudanese region of Dafur, among them an army captain and two civilians, were on Wednesday 21st May 2008, burnt beyond recognition in a road traffic accident along the Potiskum –Damaturu in Yobe State.

The road traffic accident occurred close to Sinuti Village of Fika Local Government Area, about 45 kilometers away from Damaturu, the Yobe state capital when an army truck had a head-on collision with a fuel tanker, setting the two vehicles ablaze. Report had it that the soldiers were traveling in a fleet of seven army trucks which were conveying more than two hundred and forty (240) officers and men of the Nigerian army from Lagos to 243 RECCE Battalion at Mungono in Borno state.

The Sector Commander of the FRSC in Yobe state Cdr. Ekekwe EE (DCC) who led his officers and men to the scene of the accident reported that the driver of the tanker with registration number XQ 457 GGE, which was heading towards Bauchi from Maiduguri, lost control and ran into one of the trucks in the military convoy.

The Sector Commander reported that he got the information about the accident around 0930hrs pm on Wednesday while the two vehicles were still in flame. All the people in the two vehicles died on the spot.

Report from the Unit Commander of FRSC Unit Commander in Potiskum, Cdr. Victor Osuhor had it that throughout the night of Wednesday, officers of the FRSC and soldiers in the other vehicles battled to put out the flames which gad entrapped the two trucks in an effort to evacuate those trapped in the wreckage.

The 46 dead soldiers have already been given a military burial at the National Military Cemetery, Abuja.

ABC TRANPORT COMPANY SPONSORS ROAD SAFETY TV PROGRAMME

The Oyo State Sector Command of the FRSC on Thursday 27th May 2008 took delivery of N383,000.00 cash donation from ABC transport for sponsorship of a TV programme on the NTA Ibadan Network Centre. The proposed programme named Sabi-Sabi show and produced by De Mbangs Global Links Limited will be aired on the NTA Ibadan network every Saturday between 10am and 10:30am. A breakdown of the proposed programme from the producer shows that the popular television comedy show tagged Sabi-Sabi show now a household name. It proposes to package a 5 minute documentary on the importance of the FRSC, the essence of road safety measures, the dangers of not following good road conducts and guidelines, the challenges of FRSC, the role of governments and how the general populace abuse the road and its facilities. The medium is aimed at enhancing the sensitization process of Road Safety practices on the populace in Oyo State and its neighboring states.

NYANYA UNIT COMMAND COLLABORATES WITH THE ARMY TO ENFORCE USE OF PEDESTRIAN OVERHEAD BRIDGES

The FRSC Nyanya Unit Command in the FCT has launched Special Operations in the command with a focus on ensuring the use of the pedestrian bridges located along the Abuja-Keffi road. The special operation, which is led by the Unit Commander of the Nyanya Unit, Commander GO Apochi (ACC), kicked-off on Monday 19th May 2008 with a very good response from road users.

The Unit Commander, who coordinated the special operations, had informed that the command had requested for and received a 15 man personnel support from the Nigerian Army in Keffi Cantonment for purposeful enforcement.

It will be recalled that the Abuja-Keffi road which has one of the highest traffic flow in the FCT was dualized in 1991 for ease of traffic flow into the FCT. Given the high vehicle traffic on the road coupled with corresponding high human traffic , pedestrian overhead bridges were built at strategic junctions for ease of road crossing by pedestrians. This gesture was to prevent the high casualty rate from road traffic accidents which was on the rise in the area.

FRSC SABON TASHA LAUNCHES OPERATION “GOOD MORNING”

As part of the strategy towards accident reduction in the area, the FRSC Sabon Tasha Unit Command on 9th May 2008 launched a special patrol tagged “Operation Good Morning” in the Command. The operations was targeted at controlling the speed of various road users plying the highways usually between 0800-1200hrs daily. Consequently, officers and Marshals were delegated to the Abuja road under the supervision of the Unit Commander, Cdr. T Kumar (ACC) usually accompanied by the Commands rescue ambulance vehicle. The special patrol was expected to cover all the major roads within the Command’s operational jurisdiction.

In a related development, the Command on 9th May 2008 dispatched Officers and Marshals to the Central Mosque, Mararaban Rido, to sensitize and enlighten worshipers to adhere strictly to traffic rules and regulations regarding road safety. The patrol team also participated actively in controlling traffic at the Mosque’s premises to ensure free flow of traffic during and after the Jumat prayer.

FERMA REQUESTED TO REPAIR ROADS IN KADUNA

The Federal Road Maintenance Agency in Kaduna has been called upon to contribute its quota in the reduction of road traffic accident in the state. The Sector Commander of the FRSC in the State, Commander EA Zamber (DCC) made this request when he paid an official visit to the Chief Maintenance Engineer of FERMA, Engr. KD Avongs at the FERMA field HQ in Kaduna. The Sector Commander called on the agency to assist in contributing to reduce road traffic accidents to its barest minimum through refilling of potholes as well as provision of adequate and proper road furniture. The Sector Commander also advised on the provision of adequate construction warning signs by constructions companies especially during construction periods to prevent the frequent cases of road traffic accidents at construction zones.

FRSC KADUNA PARLEYS WITH KSMC ON PUBLIC EDUCATION AND ENLIGHTENMENT

In order to step up Public Enlightenment and Education on road safety practices in the State, the Sector Commander of FRSC Kaduna State Sector Command, EA Zamber (DCC) on Friday 09th May 2008 paid an official visit to the Managing Director and Chief Executive of the Kaduna State Media Cooperation (KMSC) Radio and Television Services (AM/FM, KSTV/Kapital TV). The visit was part of the Command’s collaborative effort towards reaching out to the general motoring public on the side effects of contravening road traffic laws. The Sector Commander enjoined the MD/CEO of KSMC to assist through the cooperation in informing the public on the significance of obeying road traffic regulations.

7 PERSONS CONSUMED BY FIRE AS THREE VEHICLES COLLIDE IN KADARKO

No fewer than seven (7) persons were burnt beyond recognition in a tragic road traffic accident involving three (3) vehicles in Kadarko , Nasarawa State in the early hours of Friday 16th May 2008. The vehicles, a fuel- laden tanker and two Peugeot J5 luggage busses carrying tomatoes and garden eggs from Lagtang in Plateau State on their way to Onitsha, in Anambra state, collided at Kadarko town while attempting a dangerous overtaking. Eye witness account revealed that, one of the J5 buses had attempted to overtake another and in the process crashed into an on coming fuel tanker and caught fire immediately setting the 3 vehicles ablaze. All the passengers in the 3 vehicles were burnt beyond recognition. A rescue team from the FRSC Nasarawa Sector Command which on information had swiftly moved to the scene of the accident had on Friday morning removed the burnt corpses to the Lafiya General Hospital and cleared obstruction at the scene of the accident to ensure a free flow of traffic.

FERMA DONATES ROAD SIDE CAMP TO FRSC

The Federal Road Safety Commission, Numan Unit Command in Adamawa State on 8th May 2008, formally took delivery of a road side camp built and donated by FERMA to boost the Commission’s operational activities in the area. The Unit Commander JR Adamu (ACC) in company of the Sector Commander, Adamawa State Sector Command, Tuma S. Dalock (DCC) and the Zonal Commanding Officer Zone RS3, Abubakar Dutse (ACM) were at the Numan-Gayuk road during the official handing over of the Road Site Camp built by FERMA for FRSC and Police operations. The keys to the office complex donated to FRSC were handed over to the Sector Commander by the Chief Road Maintenance Engineer of FERMA in Adamawa state.

The Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has in recent times been at the vanguard of collaborative efforts with the FRSC in combating road traffic accidents on the highways through the provision of office accommodation and other logistics support for the Commission operations.

KANO STATE SECTOR COMMAND LAUNCHES “OPERATION EVERYWHERE”

The Federal Road Safety Commission, Kano State Sector Command has launched a Special Patrol tagged “Operation Everywhere” as part of an effort towards enhancing its operation and guaranteeing the Commission increased presence on all the highways in the state. The special patrol which stated at Yan Lemo, Zaria – Kano highway is aimed at decongesting the highway to enable easy movement of vehicles. The operations which commenced on Tuesday 6th May, 2008 is still in progress until the command is fully satisfied that the highway and others are clear and free to traffic.

FRSC LOSES ZONAL COMMANDING OFFICER

The Federal Road Safety Commission has been thrown into a moment of grief following the death of one of a Zonal Commanding Officers, Dr. Dantanee Haske, an Assistant Corps Marshal on Tuesday, 27th May 2008. The late Dr. Haske until his death was the Zonal Commanding Officer in-charge of Zone 12, with Headquarters in Bauchi. He was reported to have died of a protracted illness .

The death of the Zonal Commanding Officer was communicated to the entire staff of RSHQ by the Deputy Corps Marshals of FRSC, Elder FO Osinuwa on a parade on Tuesday May of 27th May, 2008. Already, the remains of the deceased has been laid to rest in his home town in Zuru - Kebbi state. The Corps Marshal and the entire staff of the FRSC commiserate with the family of the deceased and prayed for the soul of the departed ZCO.

FRSC PARLEYS WITH NURTW ON ILLEGAL MOTOR PARKS IN ZARIA- KADUNA STATE

As part of a strategy towards standardization of the transport sector in the country, the Federal Road Safety Commission, Zaria Unit Command has convened a meeting with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and other stakeholders in the industry to address the menace of the erection of illegal motor parks in the area. The Unit Commander of FRSC, Zaria Unit Command JA Ahar (CRC) on 12th May held a meeting with the Road Transport Union and other stakeholders on the matter and used the occasion to advise on its dangers most especially on the Zaria – Kano Flyover (Kwangila).

The erection of illegal motor-parks by motorists has been responsible for many of the ills perpetrated by transport operators especially its adverse effect on the effective use of the passengers manifest and the purpose it stands for. The meeting is expected to map out strategies towards enforcing the use of approved motor parks by different categories of transport operators in the area.

IMPROPER PARKING ON THE HIGHWAY: FRCS TO PARTNER WITH STAKEHOLDERS.

The Federal Road Safety Commission is to partner with the National Union of Road Transport Workers and other relevant bodies to address the menace of improper parking on the highways by Tanker/Trucks drivers. Improper parking of Tankers and Trucks which in recent times has become very rampant throughout the country has been identified as being a major hazard contributing to the growing number of road traffic accidents throughout the country.

Already, the FRSC management has directed all field Commanding Officers to partner with all the relevant stakeholders including the NURTW, RTEAN, NARTO etc and discuss the possible ways of removing obstructions caused by improper parking of trailers and tankers on the highways.

ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENT CLAIMS 4 LIVES IN BAUCHI

A total of four persons were killed instantly and five others sustained serious injuries when a Peugeot 505 Station Wagon with Registration Number AH306GUS collided with a Trailer with Registration Number XB229GML belonging to Dangote Group of Companies at about 222HRS along Potiskum – Kano road.

The Federal Road Safety Commission, Potiskum Unit Command which carried out rescue at the scene of the accident reported that the cause of the accident was as a result of inadequate light and dangerous driving. The Commission had recovered a total sum of One Hundred and Forty Two Thousand, Two Hundred and Fifty Naira (N142,250.00) at the scene of the accident. The injured persons were rushed to the hospital for medical attention.

In a related development, one person was killed while three injured when a bus with registration number JX207KJA collided with a bicycle opposite the NYSC Zonal office along Damaturu road. Also, one person was killed while twelve other seriously injured when a Trailer with Reg. Number XB280KZR belonging to Dangote Group of Companies and another truck with Reg. Number XM805FST collided along Damaturu – Potiskum Road. The cause of the accident was said to be dangerous overtaking on the part of the Trailer Driver. The FRSC rescue team rushed to the scene of the accident and moved the injured victims to the hospital in Potiskum for urgent medical attention while the dead one was deposited at the mortuary of the same hospital.