Abuja: The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has pledged to adopt a zero-tolerance stance against reckless drivers during and after the Eid-el-Kabir festivities. The FRSC Corps Marshal, Malam Shehu Mohammed, made this known on Wednesday at a Sallah rally in Abuja, organised to sensitise road users to safe driving habits. Mohammed also warned that all traffic offenders would face prosecution.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the Corps Marshal emphasised that the FRSC would strictly enforce laws against speeding, overloading, drunk driving, and other disruptive behaviours behind the wheel. He expressed concern about the national image projected through poor road culture, particularly in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and its environs. He criticised the trend of overloading vehicles, describing it as dangerous and unacceptable.
Mohammed stated, “Three in front, six at the back. it doesn’t speak well of us. This time around, we are not leaving any stone unturned. Any recalcitrant driver that we catch is going to face prosecution. Our crash analysis shows that over 70 per cent of road traffic crashes annually are caused by speeding.” He also advised drivers and passengers to take responsibility for safety, noting that the state of Abuja’s roads reflects on the national image.
Mohammed warned against behaviours such as using phones, watching inappropriate content, or eating while driving, adding, “We don’t condone this anymore. We are going to enforce it strictly.” He called on the public, especially commuters, to speak up when their safety is threatened by reckless drivers and appealed to the media to support FRSC’s sensitisation efforts.
Mr Jibrin Uke, Zonal Chairman Karu, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), commended the FRSC for engaging drivers in safety education ahead of the Eid-el-Kabir festivities. Uke expressed gratitude for the sensitisation exercise, describing it as timely and impactful, and reaffirmed NURTW’s support for the FRSC’s campaign for safer roads.