The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has taken decisive action to address the alarming trend of trailers conveying passengers, leading to increased traffic infractions and fatal accidents on Nigerian highways. In response to recent incidents, the FRSC has inaugurated a Joint Task Force comprising various law enforcement agencies and transport unions to arrest and prosecute offenders.
The Joint Task Force, composed of the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, State Traffic Management Agencies, FRSC operatives, and representatives of transport unions, aims to curb the dangerous practice of using trailers for passenger transportation. The initiative comes in the wake of a tragic road traffic crash on the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway that claimed 10 lives, attributed to factors such as excessive speed, overloading, and driver fatigue.
In a statement issued by FRSC spokesperson Jonas Agwu, the inauguration of the Joint Task Force marks a concerted effort to enhance safety measures on major corridors, with a particular focus on the Kaduna-Abuja Expressway. The Corps Marshal of FRSC, Dauda Biu, emphasized the critical role of the Task Force in enforcing traffic regulations and prosecuting offenders to prevent further loss of lives and damage to property.
Biu underscored the need for effective special patrol operations and Mobile Court proceedings to ensure immediate prosecution of apprehended offenders. The FRSC intends to extend these efforts nationwide, urging trailer owners to caution their drivers against violating traffic regulations.
Despite ongoing enforcement efforts, tragic accidents continue to occur, as evidenced by a fatal crash in Rinji, Toro Local Government Area of Bauchi State. The collision involved a Mercedes Benz and a Volkswagen Opel Vectra, resulting in the loss of four lives and injuries to four others. The FRSC rescue team recovered significant amounts of money belonging to the victims, highlighting the devastating impact of road traffic crashes on individuals and communities.