The Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC has deployed 800 patrol vehicles and 100 ambulances across Nigeria to address possible traffic congestions during the ember months.
FRSC’s acting Corps Marshal, Dauda Biu started this in Kaduna state while flagging off the 2022 ember months enlightenment campaign.
According to Biu, the commission has also deployed 27 towing trucks, 83 motorbikes, reflective jackets, traffic crones, tyre pressure gauges, extricating machines and digital breathalyzers.
He said the equipment were part of the logistics set aside for patrol and special operations.
Strategies
Biu mentioned that, as part of the strategies, a total of 22 help areas had been set aside for the operation to ensure prompt removal of obstructions, death and injuries during the ember period.
The acting Corps Marshal noted that the logistics were in addition to the various traffic control camps which would be dedicated to identifying the areas prone to traffic gridlock to be manned by personnel throughout the ember months.
He assured that, the commission would combine the engagement of the motoring public through purposeful and impactful public education programmes, strengthen surveillance activities to regulate unprofessional excesses, sustain effective patrol operations as well as ensure adequate monitoring on highways.
He urged all commanding officers to step up patrol operations and ensure strict enforcement of critical offences, such as overloading, driving rickety vehicles, excessive smoke emission and speed limit violations.
“We are conscious of the fact that FRSC alone cannot shoulder the responsibilities of ensuring safer road environment, hence, has directed commanding officers to liaise with other strategic stakeholders within their operational areas for the needed moral and logistics as well as security support,” he said.
The Corps Marshal also identified bad driving behaviours as one of the factors affecting the state of road infrastructures which he said, cost lot of tax payers’ resources to put in place.
Earlier, the FRSC Zonal Commanding Officer in the state, Godwin Omiko, said the ember months’ campaign was timely, particularly as it coincided with the kick-off of political campaigns across the country.
He called on road users to ensure strict adherence to traffic rules and regulations.
Confidence Okwuchi
