Owing to the fact that the Federal Road Safety Corps expects a mass movement of people and goods across the length and breadth of the Country during the end of Ramadan festive season in preparation for Id – el – fitrii coupled with a bid to trend down road traffic crashes at least by 15% and fatalities by 30% during the period, the Corps Marshal, Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi, has directed the Corps’ Operatives (Regular and Special Marshals) to effectively cover 45 Corridors during the Eid-El-Fitri special Patrol which is expected to commence from 13 June 2018 to 18 June 2018.
Among the corridors to be covered according to Bisi Kazeem, Corps Public Education Officer, FRSC are Sokoto-Tambuwal-Jega-Birnin Kebbi corridor, Katsina-Kano-Wudil-Dutse-Azare-Potiskum corridor, Kaduna-Saminaka-Jos corridor, Abuja-Kaduna-Kano corridor, Okene-Ogori-Isua-Owo corridor, Makurdi-Otukpo-Obollo Afor-9th Mile corridor, Asaba-Abraka-Ughelli-Warri corridor, Ibadan-Ogere-Sagamu corridor, Sagamu-Mowe-Lagos corridor, amongst others.
Kazeem stated that the Corps Marshal, Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi, has directed that all hands must be on deck to ensure free flow of traffic, reduction in road crashes, improved enforcement of traffic laws, and improved enlightenment on the proper use of roads in Nigeria as the Country approaches a busy Eid-El-Fitri celebration.
According to Kazeem, the Corps Marshal has directed that the Corps pays first-rate focus on Effective Traffic control, Failure to install/use Speed Limiting Device by Commercial vehicles, Overloading, Lane Indiscipline, use of Phone while driving, Number Plate violation, Driver’s Licence violation, Removal of rickety vehicles on the roads and other obstructions, Driving with expired/worn out tyres and without a spare tyre.
In view of the foregoing, Bisi Kazeem revealed that all patrol vehicles, ambulances, tow trucks, motor bikes other operational equipment in the categories of Radar Guns, Alcholyzers and all other operational logistics materials in custody of commands are to be fully deployed for this exercise, and that the Corps Marshal has equally directed that all Zebras and road side clinics must be active 24/7 and be responsive to calls within the minimum FRSC response time to crashes reported.
The operation has been programmed to run in shift as follows 0600hrs – 1400hrs, 1400HRS – 2000hrs, 2000hrs – 2200hrs, and Night Rescue teams to be on standby at all operational Commands. The Corps will go into the exercise with the friendly collaboration with Military Units en-route or resident, The Nigerian Police Force, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Department of State Security, State owned/NGO’s Ambulance service providers, National Network on Emergency Rescue Services (NNERS) and Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA).
Consequently, the Corps Marshal calls on all road users to imbibe the attitude of proper use of the roads by not only driving to stay alive, but equally to save the lives of other road users.
In situations of emergency, motorists and other road users are advised to call toll free number 122.