Adedapo Adesanya
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has deployed over 30,000 of its officers and men to commence end of the year Special Patrol tagged Operation Zero Tolerance to Road Traffic Crashes in a move to save lives and ensure safe travels this yuletide season.
The Corps equally set up 15 traffic control camps, 27 help areas, and 46 ambulance points, along critical routes of Nigeria to complement Operational and Public Education efforts.
The routes to be covered are Akwanga-Lafiya-Makurdi, Jos-Bauchi-Gombe, 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.
The Corps Public Education Officer, Mr Bisi Kazeem, added that operational equipment are also being deployed and they include: patrol vehicles, advance life support ambulances, heavy-duty tow trucks, medium and light-duty tow trucks, patrol motorbikes, extricating machines, reflective jackets, traffic cones, patrolites and radar guns.
Others are Breathalyzers, Cameras, E-tablets, Alcoholizers, Walkie Talkies, CUGs and tyre pressure gauges.
In addition to the deployment of the above operational tools, and in the quest for improved service delivery and effective Patrol Operations, the Corps Marshal further invested in advanced Information and Communication Technology to beef up its operations.
The new technology which includes body cameras and vehicle cameras that have been fully deployed shall be used for patrol operations, surveillance and traffic monitoring, rescue operations, and real-time information gathering for decision making.
While noting that the operation has already begun, the spokesperson revealed that it will be foreclosed on January 15 2022.
He highlighted the objectives of the operation as follows: Reduction of Road Traffic Crashes, fatalities and injuries; Ensure travellers comply with COVID-19 Health Protection Regulations 2021; Prompt response to road crash victims; Removal of obstructions; Ensure free flow of traffic; engage in aggressive Public Education; and provision of travel advisories.
In his words; “the targeted enforcement which the Corps Marshal Dr Boboye Oyeyemi has directed all operatives to address is not limited to excessive speeding, dangerous driving and overtaking, Tyre violation, lane indiscipline, road obstructions, use of phone while driving, overloading, seatbelts violation, child safety, passenger manifest violation, mechanically deficient vehicles, and vehicles conveying unlatched containers”.
Additionally, Mr Kazeem stated that the Corps Marshal who believes that a crash-free celebration is possible has equally tasked all senior Officers in FRSC Academy, FRSC Training Schools, and those at the National Headquarters who were also deployed to different parts of the country to pick up the slacks to ensure the mandate of the Corps for safe travels is achieved.
In this regard, the Corps Marshall directed that Mobile Courts sit throughout the Operation across the Nation and that all Commands must remain on alert after January 15, 2022, to have a near crash-free 2022, where possible.
In line with the foregoing, the special patrol is to run in shifts 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 in collaboration with Special Marshals, 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).
While urging the officers and men to show special consideration and attention to road users in line with the Corps’ service orientation, the Corps Marshal further called on Nigerians to cooperate with law enforcement agents and ensure maximum compliance with all directives on restrictions and physical distancing.
He also stated that the National Traffic Radio 107.1 FM will continue to operate 24/7 to give real-time traffic updates. As such, he called on all travellers to take advantage of the Station, Situation Office numbers: 07054005754, 07054005712 08056294021/08056295022, and the FRSC Toll-Free numbers 122 to report any obstruction, crash or gridlock witnessed on the road for the prompt intervention of the nearest command.
