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FRSC Establishes Safety Parameters for Ember Months
By Adedapo Adesanya
As the year enters into the ember months, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has issued safety guidelines to travellers in order to safely guide commuters during the period.
This was disclosed by the Corps Marshal, FRSC, Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, in a statement by the Corps Public Education Officer, Mr Bisi Kazeem, on Monday in Abuja.
Mr Oyeyemi explained that the Corps has also begun the nationwide campaign in order to minimise the tendencies of crashes and gridlocks in the next four months of the year.
He called on the motoring public to make the year 2020 ’ember’ months unique and crash-free by adhering strictly to road traffic regulations.
Mr Oyeyemi cautioned motorists to note that the end of the year was not naturally tragic and was not in any way different from other months of the year.
He said the only difference is the increase in vehicular movements witnessed during the season.
The Corp Marshal debunked the myth that the last four months of the year commonly referred to as ember months were hazardous to motorists.
He said, ”It is very possible to drive without being involved in a crash as long as motorists obey and adhere strictly to traffic laws and ensure constant maintenance of their vehicles.”
Mr Oyeyemi advised commuters to maximise alternative means of transportation by patronising the train stations which are available in order to reduce the pressure on the road transportation sector.
He stated that the travelling public must start thinking about transport sharing as early as possible to reduce pressure on the road as this would further reduce incidences of road traffic crashes.
“Family and friends are further admonished to plan and travel in phases, so as to avoid the cluster of traffic during the ember months,” he said.
The Corps Marshal stressed the need to imbibe caution when choosing the vehicles to board especially for long-distance trips.
He admonished commuters to patronise safe and secure mass transit companies that have been duly certified to operate, adding that it would make room for redundancy plans in the event of a vehicle breakdown.
He noted that night trips were not as safe as day trips and travellers must try as much as possible to plan their trips within the hours of the day because of visibility and fatigue factors on the side of the driver.
Mr Oyeyemi also warned that all travelling protocols for COVID-19 must be strictly adhered to.
“The enforcement on 50 per cent carrying capacity for all vehicles targeted at creating adequate physical distancing is still in place, and the Corps will not spare any fleet operator caught violating these directives,” he said.
The FRSC boss maintained that fleet operators must religiously follow all safety precautions, observe preventive measures against the dreaded virus and comply with every travelling directives already in place.
“Terminals and parks are expected to double up their efforts in providing adequate running water with soap and sanitiser in their parks and terminals.
“While maintaining physical distancing, all vehicles must have sanitizers inside them and avoid as much as possible, the use of air conditioner among others,” he said.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
A bill aimed at prohibiting hawking, trading or preaching inside commercial vehicles in Nigeria has been passed by the Senate.
The bill known as the Federal Road Safety Corps (Amendment) Bill, 2026, imposes fines between N50,000 and N100,000 for violations if assented to by the President.
The piece of legislation was passed by the red chamber of the National Assembly on Thursday and should later be transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for assent.
Members of the upper chamber of the parliament explained that the law was amended to discourage distractions in commercial vehicles and improve the safety of commuters.
In addition, motorists who fail to cooperate with officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) during roadside breath tests conducted on reasonable suspicion are liable to fines or imprisonment or both.
Lawmakers noted that this was to improve compliance with road safety regulations and reduce road crashes, as fines for driving under the influence of alcohol or intoxicating drugs were raised to N100,000 from N5,000, with the risk of spending two years behind bars.
It was also proposed that disobedience to traffic lights, road signs, pavement markings and other traffic control devices will now attract N100,000, while the fine for speed limit violations is now N100,000, with reckless driving now a fine of N100,000 or two years’ imprisonment.
By Dipo Olowookere
Residents and motorists plying the Aina Obembe Road in Baruwa, Ipaja, Lagos, may soon heave a sigh of relief as the excruciating traffic gridlock being experienced in the area both day and night may soon be a thing of the past.
This is because the chairman of Ayobo-Ipaja LCDA, Mr Lukmon Agbaje, has directed those involved in indiscriminate truck parking along the road to remove the heavy-duty vehicles within one week, threatening to invoke appropriate enforcement measures for noncompliance with this directive.
Speaking during a meeting on Wednesday with the management of SENA Company, which owns the affected trucks, as well as the leadership of Oluwadara CDA and other key stakeholders like the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), at the council’s secretariat, Mr Agbaje frowned at the prolonged inconvenience suffered by the community, stressing that public roads must remain accessible and safe for all users.
He emphasised the need for a collaborative approach in resolving the issue without undermining legitimate business operations, noting that he’s focused on finding a lasting solution to the gridlock experienced between Oluwaga and Aina Obembe, where parked trucks have continued to obstruct traffic, disrupt business activities, and pose safety concerns for residents and motorists.
He tasked the firm and the CDA to jointly identify and implement alternative parking arrangements that would remove all trucks from the affected roads and restore the free flow of traffic.
He declared that, “The welfare of our people remains our highest priority. No individual or corporate organisation should obstruct public infrastructure or create avoidable hardship for residents. We must ensure that economic activities coexist with public safety, order, and convenience.”
The council chief reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to promoting orderly development, ensuring safe and accessible roads, improving traffic management, and creating an environment where businesses can thrive alongside the well-being of residents.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government has cut import levies on new and used vehicles by as much as 10 per cent in a move aimed at reducing the cost of vehicle importation, even as it commenced the implementation of a new Green Tax surcharge.
According to an update issued by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Wednesday, the import levy on new vehicles has been reduced from 20 per cent to 10 per cent, while the levy on used vehicles has been slashed from 15 per cent to five per cent under the 2026 Fiscal Policy Measures, which took effect on July 1, 2026.
The customs said the policy is designed to ease the cost of vehicle imports while advancing the government’s environmental sustainability objectives through the newly introduced Green Tax.
The implementation also reduces the overall import duty on fully built passenger vehicles from 70 per cent to 40 per cent.
As part of the Green Tax framework, a new environmental surcharge of between two per cent and four per cent will apply to petrol-powered vehicles with engine capacities exceeding 2,000cc. However, mass transit buses, electric vehicles, and passenger cars with engines below 2,000cc are exempt from the surcharge.
Beyond the automobile sector, the fiscal measures also lower import duties on several essential goods. The duty on imported rice has been reduced from 70 per cent to 47.5 per cent, while crude palm oil now attracts a 28.75 per cent duty.
In addition, import duties on agricultural and manufacturing machinery have been completely removed to support local production, while Waste PET has been added to the export prohibition list to encourage domestic recycling.
