TAXI DRIVERS PROTEST OVERLOADING LAWS IN KANO

  Hundreds of drivers on Monday, 12 th January 2009 protested the observance of laws against overloading blocking major roads in Kano and as a result causing serious traffic congestion in an already overstretched traffic system.

The protesters who moved in convoys said they were protesting the decision of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) to enforce overloading laws in the state.

Some of the protesters interviewed lamented that most of the drivers were working for the vehicle owners and on a third party arrangement which makes it pretty difficult for them to break even under the new policy on overloading. The protesting drivers had informed that the peaceful protest was meant to send a strong message to the FRSC authorities that it is not time for the observance of the overloading laws. The Union therefore advised the Commission to consider extending the time. The drivers also hinted that they were planning to embark on a mass and all encompassing protest if the FRSC does not call off the enforcement of the overloading laws.

In a reaction, the Sector Commander of FRSC in Kano state, Yusuf Garba (DCC) descried the protest as unfortunate and a pointer to the fact that the commercial drivers in the state are not law abiding and patriotic. According to Garba, the FRSC has in the past one year discussed with commercial vehicle operators and carried out an elaborate public enlightenment programmes on the menace of vehicle overloading. To him, it is rather ridiculous for the drivers to come demanding for permission from the FRSC to allow them carry two extra persons.

Garba emphasised that the FRSC operatives will arrest any taxi driver henceforth found carrying more than the approved one person and three people at a time.

The Federal Government of Nigeria through the instrumentality of the FRSC has made overloading of vehicles a traffic offence as it contributes significantly to the occurrence and severity of road traffic crashes. Last year, the commission embarked on a nationwide public education and enlightenment throughout the country to enlighten road users on the dangers of overloading.