STAKEHOLDERS COMMITTEE ON INFLUX OF RIGHT HAND STEERING VEHICLES CONVENED BY THE FRSC SUBMIT COMMUNIQUE

The Stakeholders Committee on influx of Right Hand Driven Vehicles convened and facilitated by the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) with a view to addressing the menace of the continued use of Right Hand- Driven Vehicles in Nigeria has completed its work and submitted its communiqué.

The FRSC has in the past few years been at the vanguard of the crusade against the continued importation and use of right- hand driven vehicles in the country.

It will be recalled that the use of right-hand driven vehicles in Nigeria was officially prohibited in 1973 by the Gowon administration. The Federal Government has since then declared illegal any importation into and the use of all right hand driven vehicles in the country.

As part of her commitment to qualitative service delivery to the nation in addition to her deep concern about the unfortunate growing trend in this illegal act, the FRSC convened and facilitated a meeting of all stakeholders in the motor industry to address the problem and finally put to an end to the hydra headed problem. This decision was premised upon the Commissions regard for the grievous issues of safety and the security concern caused by the use of right – hand driven vehicles which required an immediate and concerted action of all relevant regulatory agencies to put an end to the problem. The committee has the Nigeria Police, the FRSC, the Nigeria Customs Service, Standard Organisations of Nigeria, Consumer Protection Council, Road Traffic Service (VIO), National Automotive Council and the National Association of Motor Dealers with the Federal Road Safety Commission as the convener.

It is believed that the various contributions and suggestions from the stakeholders, supported by a commitment to action will finally bring to an end the issue of illegal importation and the use of Right Hand Driven Vehicles in the Country.

FRSC TO ESTABLISH MORE UNIT COMMANDS

The Federal Road Safety Commission is to establish additional 28 Unit Commands before the end of the second quarter of 2008. The decision to establish more unit commands is part of the Commission’s expansionist programme aimed at repositioning its operational activities nationwide in addition to ensuring its operational presence throughout the country.

The new commands, which in line with the FRSC standard for the establishment of Unit Commands, are to be located in some of the nations local governments areas that have among other things, high vehicular traffic in addition to other basic facilities required for the take-off of new Unit Commands.

A statement from the Assistant Corps Marshal in charge of Operations of the FRSC, AK Browne fwc also directs Zonal Commanding Officers to liaise with Local Governments Authorities within their operational jurisdiction to use the already existing symbiotic relationship existing between the Local Governments and the FRSC Commands to ensure the provision of basic requirements such as office and residential accommodation for Commanding Officers with at least moderate furnishing so as to enhance a speedy take off of the desiring Unit Commands.

The FRSC operates a three tier operational structure viz: Zonal Commands, Sector Commands and Unit Commands with the Units as essentially operationally based structures working at the local levels.

KADUNA STATE LAUNCHES OPERATION YAKI WITH 75 (SEVENTY FIVE)VEHICLES

The Kaduna State Government on Wednesday 26 March 2008 launched her anti-crime outfit in Kaduna, the state capital. The anti crime outfit codenamed “Operation Yaki” is a joint crime prevention operational team consisting the Nigerian Army, the Police, the FRSC and the Civil Defense in the state.

The anti crime body which was formally launched and commissioned by the Vice President, Mr. Goodluck Jonathan, is to take-off with a total of 75 well equipped patrol vehicles for ease of operation. The joint team is expected to patrol the entire Kaduna state with a view to purging the state of all criminal activities. The Federal Road Safety Commission in Kaduna was actively on ground in controlling both human and vehicular traffic at the venue and the state capital in general.