Speaking with newsmen in Sango-Ota on Monday, Mr Anthony Uga, the FRSC Sector Commander in Ogun, emphasized the organization’s zero tolerance for any form of assault on its personnel.

Uga stated that motorists found guilty of assaulting FRSC personnel would be apprehended and handed over to the police, facing legal proceedings for assaulting uniformed personnel.

He emphasized that the FRSC is committed to upholding the law, and any perpetrator of such actions would inevitably face the consequences in accordance with legal procedures.

Furthermore, Uga highlighted that it is an offense for an FRSC operative to assault members of the motoring public. Anyone found engaging in such behavior will be charged for committing an offense against the public.

The sector commander underscored that the role of the FRSC is to maintain order on the highways, not to act as a conquering force.

The FRSC Sector Commander in Katsina State, Mr. Ibrahim Maiyaki-Bazama, conveyed this warning during a press conference held in Katsina on Friday.

While acknowledging freedom of movement, Maiyaki-Bazama emphasized the FRSC’s responsibility to implement measures aimed at minimizing road crashes.

He encouraged people to either refrain from or limit night travel, citing the limited visibility for motorists beyond the reach of vehicle headlights during nighttime journeys.

The Sector Commander highlighted the challenges associated with nighttime accidents, such as delayed assistance and the unavailability of immediate helpers. In the event of an accident, he stressed that obtaining assistance may be time-consuming.

Maiyaki-Bazama assured the public that the FRSC has standby rescue teams strategically positioned at five command units in Funtua, Daura, Koza, Malumfashi, and Kankia.

These teams are prepared to respond promptly to emergencies and provide assistance in case of any road incidents during the festive season.

According to a statement by Assistant Corps Marshal and Corps Public Education Officer, ACM Bisi Kazeem, the FRSC recorded a total of 5,700 road traffic crashes in this period, compared to 6,627 in the same period in 2022, reflecting a 14% reduction.

The statement also highlighted that the number of lives lost in these accidents decreased significantly, with 2,850 fatalities in H1 2023 compared to 3,375 in H1 2022, marking a 15.5% reduction.

Moreover, the FRSC reported a 14% decrease in the number of people rescued with injuries, with 16,716 recorded in 2023, down from 19,440 in 2022.

The statement read: “In what could be tagged a successful outing in the operational front during the first six months of the year 2023, the Federal Road Safety Corps has recorded a decline in the total number of road traffic crashes, the total number of injuries and fatalities as well, when compared with the same period in 2022.

“According to the FRSC road traffic crash dashboard, within the period under consideration, the Corps recorded a total of 5,700 road traffic crashes as against 6,627 in the same period in the year 2022, representing a 14 per cent decrease.

“In the same vein, from January to June 2023, the Corps also achieved a 14 per cent reduction in the number of people rescued with injuries, having rescued a total of 16,716 in 2023 against 19,440 injured victims in the first half of the year 2022.

“On the number of people killed, the Corps also recorded a significant reduction within the operational period. According to the crash data report, in the first six months of the year 2023, the Corps recorded a total of 2,850 fatalities as against 3,375 in the same period in 2022, representing a 15.5 per cent reduction.

“The Corps Marshal attributed this modest achievement to a number of strategies and innovations in enforcement activities, improved presence and visibility, public enlightenment and partners’ engagement”.

While charging drivers to desist from bad driving behaviours, Corps Marshal Dauda Ali Biu re-emphasised the commitment of the Corps towards achieving its corporate mandate of sanitising the highways and entrenching safety on the nation over 200,000 kilometers road network.

Mr. Babatunde Farinloye, the State Sector Commander of FRSC, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos.

Within the eight-month period, there were 1,611 individuals involved in road accidents, which included 102 minor accidents and 158 serious incidents. To enhance road safety, the command deployed 324 personnel to its checkpoints.

Moreover, the command recorded a significant number of traffic offenses, with 53,564 violations and 44,269 offenders reported during this timeframe.

Mr. Farinloye stressed the importance of cultivating a culture of safety among both motorists and pedestrians to reduce the fatality rate in RTCs.

He noted that the upcoming “Ember Months,” referring to the last four months of the year, see an increase in socio-economic, cultural, and religious activities, leading to a surge in vehicular movements and potentially reckless behavior.

The FRSC’s efforts to mitigate these risks include public awareness campaigns, free vehicle safety checks, driver training programs, vehicle inspections, fleet regulation, and daily highway surveillance by patrol teams.

The 2023 Campaign for Safety for the rainy season and Ember Months has commenced with the theme “Speed Thrills, It Kills, Drive Responsibly And Avoid Overloading.”

Mr. Farinloye emphasized the importance of adhering to speed limits, regular vehicle maintenance, avoiding phone use while driving, refraining from speeding and drunk driving, and assured the public of enhanced traffic monitoring and management with additional logistical support from FRSC management.

He called for a collective effort from all stakeholders to ensure safety during the Ember Months and beyond.

According to a statement released on Monday by the Director of LASTMA’s Public Affairs and Enlightenment department, Mr. Adebayo Taofiq, the General Manager, Mr. Bolaji Oreagba, reportedly agreed to the proposed Joint Task Force during a weekend courtesy call.

Corps Commander Babatunde Farinloye and his staff, the new Sector Commander for FRSC Lagos, presented the idea.

Oreagba revealed that LASTMA had been saving accident victims, particularly those engaged in truck accidents, in coordination with other emergency responders at any emergency or accident scene around the state.

The agencies include the Lagos State Ambulance Services, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, National Emergency Management Authority, Lagos Fire & Rescue Service and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

“Sequel to the need to prevent further loss of lives and properties through truck crashes on Ojuelegba bridge, LASTMA had deployed trained officers to be disallowing heavy duty trucks/tankers from plying on top Ojuelegba Bridge by Ikorodu Road,” he said, according to the statement.

He maintained that for fairness, equity and quick dispensation of justice on all traffic violators including truck drivers, the Lagos State Mobile would be part of the LASTMA, FRSC joint Task Force on Accident Reduction.

The GM however stated that innocent motorists including other road users who were mostly victims of road accident would be beneficial of this joint task force.

Earlier in his speech, the new Sector Commander FRSC Lagos, Corps Commander Babatunde Farinloye, said the FRSC was primarily established to maintain safety on highways across the country.

Corps Farinloye maintained that the FRSC had been collaborating with individual State Traffic Management Agencies in maintaining standard on road safety management across the country.

According to Farinloye , the FRSC and LASTMA must work together as a team for peace, safety and prosperity on the highways as this would lead to a paradigm shift from usual way of operation to an exceptional and outstanding way.

He called for more public education and enlightenment on motorists disobeying traffic regulations particularly those driving against traffic (one-way) in Lagos State.

The Sector Commander of the FRSC in Ogun, Mr Ahmed Umar, confirmed this to newsmen on Monday in Abeokuta.

Umar explained that the accident occurred in the early hours of Monday and involved a Toyota Sienna with registration number DKP 60 LG.

He added that it occurred just before first AP turning point after Danco filling station on the expressway.

He attributed the crash to speeding that led to loss of control by the driver.

The FRSC boss stated that six people, comprising four males and two females were in the vehicle.

“A total of three people were injured, two male adult and one female adult and unfortunately three persons lost their lives in the accident,” he said.

Umar noted that the injured victims were currently receiving treatment at Idera Hospital, while the dead bodies were deposited at the morgue of same hospital.

The sector commander commiserated with the crash victims and advised motorists to shun speeding, particularly during this ember months

The State Sector Commander, Mr Joseph Toby, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Enugu on Thursday.

Toby decried the rising spate of crashes caused by excessive smoking vehicles that had continued to be a recurring decimal on the roads in the state.

He wondered how one can have articulated vehicles used for commercial purpose daily, and leave the same unattended to or fixed.

“It is becoming a common sight to see smoky articulated trucks, luxury buses and tankers that are emitting smoke so much.

“Why would someone in his right mind doing business with a truck, allow it to over smoke and choke drivers of other vehicles and road users.

“In an attempt to maneuver past such smoky vehicles, the unsuspecting vehicles in defensive driving crashes on another vehicle parked along the road or those on motion.

“We have reached a point that FRSC says no and henceforth, the vehicles will be impounded and it will remain impounded even after the fine has been paid until they are fixed and road worthy.”

The commander urged vehicle owners to always ensure their vehicles were road worthy, adding that most crashes were caused by human error and carelessness.

“Road users, especially vehicle owners, should assist the FRSC and its stakeholders to reduce road crashes to the barest minimum in the state by fixing their vehicles,” he said.

Thee Assistant Corps Marshal, Bisi Kazeem announced this in a statement on Tuesday,  following the circulation of a video of a vehicle that displayed rotating number plates with different detail on either side of the plates.

“The attention of the FRSC has been drawn to a video circulating on social media which displayed a vehicle circulating with rotational number plates.

“The vehicle number plates on display are: KUJ-304BV, while the other side which was automatically flipped carries a number tagged presidency with the following details, 01B-266FG,” the statement read partly.

“The FRSC Ag. Corps Marshal, Dauda Biu, has ordered full investigation into the trend as the FRSC noted that it did not produce a number plate with such double features, adding “only one number can be assigned to one vehicle and its owner at the same time.”

“The FRSC recently placed a public notice on the mainstream media dissuading Nigerians and the Motoring Public from according regards to vehicles with unauthorised number plates as the users are not duly registered and are often with sinister motives.

“The Ag . Corps Marshal is also using this medium to warn Nigerians from replicating same as it is considered a criminal act which has its place in law,” the statement added.

The Lagos Sector Commander, FRSC, Olusegun Ogungbemide, disclosed this during a media conference held in Lagos on Monday.

The conference came following the increasing rate of Road Traffic Crashes due to recklessness and other factors on the part of drivers.

He said that the 416 crashes were  recorded between 6.00 p.m to 6.00 a.m from January to August.

The official said there was the need for motorists to take caution while planning their journeys in the night.

He said: “Our crash reports within the period show that a total of 416 crashes were recorded, in which 705 people were involved.

“Out of the 705 people involved in various crashes within the period under review, 558 were seriously injured and 97 lost their lives.

“The Federal Road Safety under the leadership of Acting Corps Marshal, Dauda Biu, will continue demonstrating its commitment to mitigating rate and fatalities of road traffic crashes.”

Ogungbemide said the corps had already enunciated the policy of discouraging night travel through public sensitisation programmes.

The commander said that the civil approach to discourage  night travel was based on the need to raise public awareness on hazards faced when crash occurs during the period.

He said that law enforcers could not be everywhere and it was imperative for motorists to have self regulation in addressing safety and security challenges.

Ogungbemide said the FRSC could not specify what time individuals could make journeys to their destination, as that was exclusively a human right case.

He said that the record of crashes had raised alarm that more needs to be done in reaching the critical audience and achieving the goals.

Ogungbemide said the FRSC also faced challenges with rescue operations at night.

He said that possibility of victims accessing proper medical attention could be lower at such period due to various factors.

The corps commander commended the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and other enforcement agencies for their collaboration.

He said that this helped the command in achieving its mandate.

Ogungbemide commended the media for the propagation of road safety messages.

He said that the corps had to align with the United Nations General Assembly’s appeals on the actions against the menace.

Ogungbemide urged institutions, individuals and organisations to join the road safety lead agency in actualising the goal.

The accident was said to have been caused by excessive speed which resulted in the loss of control, while the bus rammed into the median strip and went into flames.

This was disclosed in a  statement by Sector Commander, Ogun State Command, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Hamed Umar.

According to the statement, the fatal crash occurred at about 7: 50am on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway around Oniworo, after Foursquare Camp.

Umar added that 20 persons were involved in the accident. He said one female and 15 male adults survived with injuries, while four of them were burnt beyond recognition.

“A total of 16 people were injured. The lone crash involved a Mazda bus with registration number APP934XH.

“The suspected cause of the crash was excessive speed, which led to loss of control and the Mazda bus rammed into the median strip (road divider) and went up in flames.”

The injured victims were said to have been taken to Victory Hospital, Ogere, for medical attention.

The Sector Commander of the FRSC, Ogun State Command, Ahmed Umar, has, however, advised motorists to obey traffic rules and regulations

He also condoled with the families of the deceased and pray that God should strengthen.