ABUJA – The House of Representatives has advanced a bill seeking to amend the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Act of 2007.
The proposed legislation, which has successfully passed through its second reading, aims to establish a Road Safety Special Armed Squad under the FRSC.
This specialized squad will be empowered to enforce road safety regulations and improve security along Nigeria’s highways, further enhancing the agency’s capacity to ensure safer roads.
The bill is expected to undergo further legislative scrutiny before being fully adopted.
The bill, sponsored by Hon. Abiodun Derin Adesida (APC, Ondo) and Hon. Olaide Lateef Muhammed (APC, Oyo), received unanimous approval during Thursday’s plenary session of the House of Representatives.
The proposed legislation aims to extend benefits, including retirement entitlements, to Corps officers holding the rank of Deputy Corps Marshal, aligning their retirement benefits with the privileges associated with that grade.
“The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) will be further empowered to take charge of road traffic administration and safety management. This includes the prevention and reduction of road traffic crashes on public roads, oversight of road users, and regulation of traffic to ensure safe and efficient use of the nation’s highways.”
The bill also aims to empower the commission with the authority to remove obstructions from any part of public roads. Additionally, it seeks to educate drivers, motorists, and the general public on the proper use of public roads.
The House urged the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to enhance its operations by adopting modern technology.
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It recommended the use of advanced, technology-driven enforcement methods such as Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) and Automated Traffic Enforcement Systems, along with advanced analytics and data platforms, to improve road safety and traffic management.
The Commission has been urged to assess the effectiveness of its enforcement strategies, particularly evaluating whether technology-assisted methods are effectively reducing traffic violations and enhancing safety on the roads.
The resolutions of the House were adopted following a motion sponsored by Hon. Garba Ibrahim Muhammad from Kano State during the plenary session.
In moving the motion, Muhammad raised serious concerns regarding the enforcement methods employed by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), specifically the use of physical checkpoints.
He highlighted that the placement of these checkpoints on steep inclines and declines poses significant risks to commuters.
For motorcyclists and tricycle operators, sudden braking or swerving to avoid these checkpoints can lead to accidents.
Muhammad emphasized the need for a review of checkpoint locations to enhance road safety for all users.
The lawmaker raised concerns about the impact of checkpoints on traffic flow, particularly during peak hours, where they often lead to significant bottlenecks and delays.
Also, there have been troubling reports of officials from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) engaging in corrupt practices at these checkpoints, including soliciting bribes from motorists and impounding vehicles for minor offenses.
He also expressed alarm over the FRSC’s practice of pursuing commuters for traffic violations using motorcycles and vehicles. Such high-speed chases not only pose risks to bystanders but can also lead to loss of control, resulting in injuries and minor accidents.
