Bill to arm FRSC officers passes second reading

A bill seeking to amend the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Act of 2007, which includes provisions for officers to bear arms, has passed its second reading in the House of Representatives.

The bill, sponsored by Reps. Abiodun Adesida (APC-Ondo) and Olaide Muhammed (APC-Oyo), was discussed during Thursday’s plenary session.

The proposed amendment aims to establish a Road Safety Special Armed Squad and offer benefits for officers ranked at Deputy Corps Marshal level, including retirement benefits. Additionally, the bill seeks to enhance the FRSC’s role in road traffic administration and safety management by providing the commission with broader responsibilities.

If passed into law, the bill will grant the FRSC authority to oversee public road usage, regulate traffic, and manage road safety to minimize traffic crashes. The commission will also be tasked with educating the public, motorists, and drivers on safe road practices.

Speaker of the House, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas, referred the bill to the committee on FRSC for further legislative action.

In a related development, the House has called on the FRSC to adopt technology-assisted enforcement systems, such as Automated Traffic Enforcement (ATE) systems, Automatic Vehicle Local (AVL) systems, advanced analytics, and data platforms, to improve traffic management. This call followed a motion presented by Rep. Garba Muhammad.

During the motion, Muhammad highlighted the risks posed by FRSC’s physical checkpoints, particularly in areas with steep inclines or declines, which can be hazardous for motorcycles and tricycles.

He also pointed out that these checkpoints often create traffic bottlenecks and delays, with reports of FRSC officials engaging in corrupt practices, such as soliciting bribes or impounding vehicles for minor offenses.

“Worried that the FRSC’ practice of using motorcycles and vehicles to chase commuters for traffic offenses raises concerns as the chase was always on high speed, posing a risk to bystanders, and resulting in loss of control leading to injuries and minor accidents.

“Also worried that while the FRSC goal of enforcing traffic laws is understandable, it is crucial to prioritise the safety of everyone on the road, but chasing commuters should be a last resort, employed only in situations where it is absolutely necessary and can be done safely,” he said.

The house urged the Federal Road Safety Commission to evaluate the effectiveness of enforcement strategies in reducing traffic violations and improving safety.

In his ruling, the speaker mandated the House Committee on FRSC to ensure compliance.

(NAN)