Tag: FRSC

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has appealed to the Nigerian public to comply with traffic laws and regulations with a view to reducing high rate of crashes on the roads.

The FRSC spokesman, Olusegun Ogungbemide, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja, that public support and cooperation were essential in ensuring a safe and secured motoring environment.

Ogungbemide who expressed concern over the high rate of casualties on Nigerian roads, attributed it to impunity and disregard for traffic laws.

He disclosed that the corps had recorded high number of crashes and fatalities resulting from reckless driving, overloading, and mix loading.

He also said that advanced countries being celebrated for their development did not achieve their status without the support and cooperation of their citizens.

He noted that these countries have well-developed systems and laws in place, which were strictly enforced and complied with by their citizens.

He stressed the need for Nigeria to replicate same level of development and safety on its roads with citizens complying with traffic laws and regulations.

Ogungbemide, also said that compliance with traffic laws was crucial in preventing crashes and saving lives, emphasising that the laws were in place to ensure harmony, security, and safety for all.

According to him, the advance country we are celebrating today or the western country we are celebrating today, didn’t just get to where they are without the support of the public.

“Any society where the laws prevail is with the support of the general public, because when the laws are there, and they are not being complied with, we have a chaotic situation where there are no rules.

“We need the support of the members of the public to do the right thing. It brings about harmony in the system and security and safety for all.

“On annual basis, we lose lots of people that hitherto would have been saved if we did the right thing as members of the public,” he said.

The FRSC spokesman also cautioned against “mix loading” and overloading, which he said could lead to crashes and fatalities.

“The laws are there; let us take our time to comply with them and not to short change them. Lives are very precious no matter how cheap we think it is.

“Let’s try as much as we can to abide by the laws to do the right thing so that all those western countries we envy, we can replicate the same thing here.

“When we go out there, we abide by their laws, but when we come back here, it becomes all commerce and affairs.

“We treat our laws with impunity and that’s why we have high rate of casualties we are experiencing on our highways,” he said.

Ogungbemide however, said that the corps would continue to enforce traffic laws and regulations, and urged the public to cooperate with its personnel.

He appealed to the public to support the FRSC’s efforts to ensure safety on Nigerian roads, adding that it help the corps in achieving its goal of reducing crashes and fatalities on the nation’s roads. (NAN)

The Lagos State Government has unveiled the deployment of additional Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) on four strategic routes to enhance effective traffic and road management, ensure safety, and improve commuting across the state.

The state government also announced plans to enforce traffic rules against red light and speed-limit infractions across the metropolis from now on.

The state Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, disclosed this on Thursday at a media briefing and unveiling of the advanced technology initiative at Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.
According to the commissioner, the four strategic routes with speed limits include 80 kilometres per hour on Alapere-Ogudu Road and 60 kilometres per hour on Nitel, Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, Allen Avenue Road Junction and Nurudeen Olowopopo Road.
When asked about the fines for violating the red light and overspeeding, he said, respectfully, that they would attract M20,000 and N50,000.
The new installations are expected to complement existing ANPR Cameras and other Traffic Management Solution (TMS) devices, reinforcing commitment to improving road safety, optimizing traffic management, and fostering a more efficient transportation network in a rapidly growing city.
These initiatives align with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s vision for a smarter, safer, and more sustainable Lagos.
The ITS integrates advanced information, communication, sensing, control, and computer technologies into the transportation management framework.
This innovative system allows real-time monitoring and management of traffic conditions, enabling precise, efficient, and comprehensive control of transportation activities.
Osiyemi stressed that the traffic solutions system’s enforcement of speed limits, commencing immediately,would further enhance the safety of lives and properties as well as improve orderliness on Lagos roads.
Therefore, the commissioner urged commuters to comply with traffic laws and regulations on the roads, saying the initiative “is not a revenue generation drive.”
Osiyemi states, “I am pleased to announce the deployment of four new ITS sites designed to monitor, manage, and enforce road traffic laws effectively. These sites are categorized into two key functions: Checkpoint sites for Speed Detection and E-Police Sites for Monitoring Traffic Violations.
One of the Checkpoint Sites designed to detect overspeeding is located at Alapere, Ogudu Road, with a speed limit of 80km/h, while the other is installed at Nitel, Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, with a speed limit of 60km/h.
The checkpoint sites are strategically located to detect and deter cases of over-speeding, which remains one of the leading causes of road accidents.
On the other hand, the E-Police Sites for Traffic Violations are installed at Allen Avenue Road Junction and Nurudeen Olowopopo Road.
These e-Police sites were designed to detect a wide range of traffic violations, including Running red lights, Non-compliance with lane discipline, Illegal U-turns and Reverse driving on highways.
Through high-definition cameras and real-time monitoring systems, the e-Police sites will serve as virtual traffic enforcement officers, ensuring drivers adhere to road regulations, even when physical officers are absent.
“It is important also to note that enforcement will commence immediately.
“Motorists who violate traffic laws as detected by the ITS will receive SMS notifications from the Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS) department detailing the nature of the violation and the corresponding fines to be paid.“This system is not designed to be punitive but to encourage responsible driving behavior and reduce the rate of accidents on our roads.
“The goal is simple: to save lives, protect property, and create an orderly transportation environment,” he stressed.
Osiyemi listed the benefits of the ITS, including Improved Road Safety by discouraging reckless driving behaviors and efficient traffic flow by reducing congestion through better monitoring and management.
“Data-Driven Decisions: helping government agencies plan more effectively based on real-time traffic data.
“Transparency: Minimizing human interference reduces the potential for disputes and enhances fairness in enforcement.”
He, therefore, urged all private road users-private motorists, commercial drivers, and transport unions to comply with the traffic laws and regulations of Lagos State.
“Drive within the speed limits, obey traffic signals, maintain your lane discipline, and avoid dangerous maneuvers such as reverse driving on major roads,” Osiyemi stated.
Earlier, Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology Tunbosun Alake added that the initiative, in collaboration with the private sector, was part of the state government’s commitment to delivering a more technologically liveable and advanced city in its bid to resolve issues around traffic management, ensure safety, and promote socio-economic growth.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Olawale Musa, said, “The initiative is not a punitive measure, even if it would attract fines from violators of red light and established speed limits in the state. It encourages commuters to correct bad behavioral patterns on the roads and continue to obey traffic rules to prevent avoidable loss of lives and properties in the state.

The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, gave this warning while addressing newsmen on Monday in Abuja on its recently concluded Operation Zero Tolerance.

He expressed alarm over the rising number of collisions and fatalities, especially the rate of deaths during removal of petroleum products from crashed tankers.

Mohammed explained that fallen tankers were the reason for the rise in fatalities in 2024.

He said that the situation was worrisome, especially in cases of fatalities as a result of scooping of petroleum products from crashed tankers in Niger and Jigawa states.

He identified the conveyance of persons in haulage vehicles, the overloading of persons, the conveying of petroleum products in passenger vehicles, and fatigue as causes of three deaths and above per crash threshold.

According to him, five landmark crashes defined the number of road traffic crashes, fatalities, and injuries recorded between Dec. 15, 2024, and Jan. 15.

“These were Jing, Shendam in Plateau State on Dec. 20, 2024, which killed 11 people, and the Bende-Ohafia route in Abia State on Dec. 22, 2024, which also killed 11 people.

“Another one was Dec. 25, 2024, on the Kaduna-Abuja expressway that killed eight passengers, and that of Jebba, Kwara State, on Dec. 26, 2024, which claimed 30 lives, as well as that of Owo-Ikare route before Ose Bridge on Dec. 28, 2024, that led to the death of 13 passengers.

“These five landmark crashes were the most fatal crashes out of the 37 critical crashes that killed 3 persons or more, and that accounted for seven per cent of the total crashes recorded during the period,” he said.

Mohammed said that the data indicated that those 37 crashes alone resulted in the death of 247 persons, which constituted 39 per cent of the total deaths recorded within the period.

“The 2024 end-of-the-year special patrol recorded fatalities is alarming and unacceptable. Therefore, it is obvious that the crashes were as a result of human errors,” he said.

The FRSC boss, however, maintained that the Corps was committed to achieving its mandate through compliance with the presidential directives.

He said the Corps would collaborate with the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to sensitise the public to the dangers of scooping fuel from crashed tankers.

Mohammed stressed that the Corps would meet with stakeholders, particularly petroleum tanker unions, to proffer lasting solutions to the incessant crashes involving tanker drivers.

He, however, appealed to passengers to avoid boarding trailers and trucks meant for goods either during daytime or night trips due to the inherent dangers.

“In this beginning year 2025, I wish to caution motorists and travellers to avoid excessive speed and overloading as much as possible.

“Management will also continue to motivate staff through enhanced welfare packages.

“It is also expected that our effort at capacity building would provide the required skills and professionalism needed for enhanced productivity. (NAN)