FRSC PROSECUTES 44 AT CAMPAIGN FLAG-OFF AGAINST SPEED VIOLATION

About 44 road traffic offenders have been prosecuted for various traffic-related offences by mobile courts established along the Ilorin and Ibadan highways during a formal campaign flag-off by the Federal Road Safety Commission to address speed violation and public presentation of Radar guns to detect speed over speeding among motorists across the country.

Speaking at the Ibadan new garage during a motor park rally, the FRSC Corps Marshal and Chief Executive, Osita Chidoka stated that the nationwide exercise code named Operation Rain Storm is targeted at imparting appropriate road traffic conduct among Nigerian motorists especially during the rainy season with traffic peculiarities which demands for effective vehicle maintenance and proper functioning of wipers, windscreen, brakes and tyres, in addition to the need to address other road vices such as speed violation, non-use of safety helmet, seat belt violation, use of mobile phone while driving among other traffic violations.

The Corps Marshal further disclosed that the weekly FRSC management meeting provides a platform for post analysis of operational activities and prompt intervention on emerging road traffic trends across the country.

Continuing, Chidoka stated that aside from creating e-mail addresses for 600 FRSC staff for on-line road traffic administration with plans to create 13,000 additional e-mail addresses and 5,000 close-user-group telephone lines for hitch-free and convenient interface among FRSC formations spread across the country.

Similarly, the Corps Marshal added that the Commission is poised for formal launch of a Micro Finance Bank to provide loan facility for FRSC staff and foundation laying for 350 housing units on owner-occupier basis at Lokogoma in the FCT and commissioning of 22 ambulances and 2 heavy duty tow trucks for prompt response to cases of road crash and removal of obstruction from the highways.

It would be recalled that in its drive towards addressing spate of road crash fatalities across the country, the FRSC identified 9 road crash prone locations and black spots on the highways; Kaduna-Abuja, Lokoja-Abaji, Benin-Asaba, Damaturu-Potiskum, Lagos-Ibadan,Enugu-Awka,Bauchi-Jos and Ibadan-Ilorin routes.

The FRSC Board Chairman, Col Lawan Gwadabe (rtd)will lead a team among the next phase of strategic patrol and operation rain storm flag-off of the nationwide exercise.