NATIONWIDE PROTEST SUSPENSION: FRSC ISSUES TRAFFIC ALERT

As Nigerians come out from the suspension of the 7-day nationwide protest by labour and civil society organizations over the removal of fuel subsidy, the Federal Road Safety Corps wishes to advice returnee holiday makers and people travelling to their various places of work and destinations , to avoid embarking on night trips and other forms of road vices and comply with all traffic rules and regulations.
This measure has become imperative in view of the expected upsurge in human and vehicular traffic across the country.

Most importantly, private vehicle owners and commercial vehicle operators are strictly warned to desist from overloading and ensure proper maintenance of such vehicles before entering the highways as FRSC operatives will enforce existing traffic rules and regulations as part of measures towards ensuring sanity on the nation’s highways.

We expect an increase of vehicular and human traffic along the following major routes: Onitsha-Benin; Benin-ore-Shagamu-Lagos; Lagos- Shagamu-Ibadan; Enugu – Port Harcourt expressway; Benin – Auchi- Okene; Okene - Lokoja – Abaji- Gwagwalada ; Abuja-Kaduna – Zaria – Kano; Ibadan – Ife- Akure- Owo and Ibadan-Ilorin-Bode Sa’idu-Mokwa- Bida – Minna highways.

Others are 9th Mile –Otukpo- Makurdi- Lafia; Lafia – Akwanga- Keffi-Abuja; Lafia – Akwanga- Jos ; Jos – Bauchi – Gombe; Zaria-Funtua- Katsina, Funtua- Gusau- Sokoto, Kaduna-Kanfanchan- Jos, Kaduna- birnin-Gwari- Lagos, Calabar- Itu- Ikot Ekpene- Aba ; Uyo – Aba and Aba – Port Harcourt and Benin- Warri- Port Harcourt highways.

Commanding Officers on these routes have been put on alert to ensure free flow of traffic and ensure prompt response to road crashes.
Also worthy of mention is the current adverse foggy weather condition which occurs in the early hours of morning and late evening mist, usually associated with the harmattan season.

Consequently, motorists especially motorists from the northeast axis of the country, are strictly warned to drive with lights on low beam in view of reflections from high beams which heighten poor visibility of drivers as a result of the cool but dry winds from the Sahara desert.

In view of prevailing climatic conditions, motorists are further reminded of the need to embark on daily routine check of their vehicles before entering the road.

Aside from the wipers, brakes, non-defective windscreen and functional lights, it is instructive to check radiators for water, defrosters and use coolant to keep the vehicle engine within normal range in addition to avoiding the use of under-inflated, over-inflated or worn-out tyres.

As the Federal Road Safety Corps intensifies its sustained safety awareness campaign towards a safer use of the highways by all Nigerians during this period, road users are strictly warned to avoid other road vices such as under-age driving, non-use of passenger manifest, drunk driving, speed violation, use of phone while driving and non-use of seat belt.