ABUJA – The Home of Representatives has superior a invoice looking for to amend the Federal Highway Security Fee (FRSC) Act of 2007.
The proposed laws, which has efficiently handed by means of its second studying, goals to ascertain a Highway Security Particular Armed Squad underneath the FRSC.
This specialised squad will probably be empowered to implement highway security rules and enhance safety alongside Nigeria’s highways, additional enhancing the company’s capability to make sure safer roads.
The invoice is anticipated to endure additional legislative scrutiny earlier than being totally adopted.
The invoice, sponsored by Hon. Abiodun Derin Adesida (APC, Ondo) and Hon. Olaide Lateef Muhammed (APC, Oyo), acquired unanimous approval throughout Thursday’s plenary session of the Home of Representatives.
The proposed laws goals to increase advantages, together with retirement entitlements, to Corps officers holding the rank of Deputy Corps Marshal, aligning their retirement advantages with the privileges related to that grade.
“The Federal Highway Security Fee (FRSC) will probably be additional empowered to take cost of highway visitors administration and security administration. This contains the prevention and discount of highway visitors crashes on public roads, oversight of highway customers, and regulation of visitors to make sure protected and environment friendly use of the nation’s highways.”
The invoice additionally goals to empower the fee with the authority to take away obstructions from any a part of public roads. Moreover, it seeks to teach drivers, motorists, and most people on the correct use of public roads.
The Home urged the Federal Highway Security Corps (FRSC) to boost its operations by adopting trendy expertise.
It advisable using superior, technology-driven enforcement strategies equivalent to Automated Car Location (AVL) and Automated Site visitors Enforcement Programs, together with superior analytics and knowledge platforms, to enhance highway security and visitors administration.
The Fee has been urged to evaluate the effectiveness of its enforcement methods, significantly evaluating whether or not technology-assisted strategies are successfully decreasing visitors violations and enhancing security on the roads.
The resolutions of the Home had been adopted following a movement sponsored by Hon. Garba Ibrahim Muhammad from Kano State through the plenary session.
In transferring the movement, Muhammad raised critical issues relating to the enforcement strategies employed by the Federal Highway Security Corps (FRSC), particularly using bodily checkpoints.
He highlighted that the location of those checkpoints on steep inclines and declines poses vital dangers to commuters.
For motorcyclists and tricycle operators, sudden braking or swerving to keep away from these checkpoints can result in accidents.
Muhammad emphasised the necessity for a overview of checkpoint areas to boost highway security for all customers.
The lawmaker raised issues concerning the influence of checkpoints on visitors stream, significantly throughout peak hours, the place they typically result in vital bottlenecks and delays.
Additionally, there have been troubling stories of officers from the Federal Highway Security Corps (FRSC) participating in corrupt practices at these checkpoints, together with soliciting bribes from motorists and impounding automobiles for minor offenses.
He additionally expressed alarm over the FRSC’s follow of pursuing commuters for visitors violations utilizing bikes and automobiles. Such high-speed chases not solely pose dangers to bystanders however may result in lack of management, leading to accidents and minor accidents.
