Federal Road Safety Corps At 37

In 2010, the World Financial institution praised the Federal Highway Security Corps (FRSC) and described it as a mannequin in sub-Saharan Africa. It acknowledged the Corps’ post-crash response facility amongst different novelties since its delivery in 1988. The United Nations (UN) equally acknowledged the FRSC’s Lead Company position in addition to its inventive interventions to sort out avoidable street visitors crashes.

When the Corps celebrated its twenty fifth anniversary underneath the management of Osita Chidoka, the glasses clinked, the drums rolled, celebrating the lead visitors administration company in Nigeria. Main the toast was the person who midwifed the Corps, former Army President, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida.

He was strongly supported by the then Commander-in-Chief (C-in-C), President Goodluck Jonathan, with Professor Wole Soyinka, pioneer chairman of the FRSC governing council, beating the African bata drum in reward of the feat of the Corps

From throughout the globe, famend specialists in visitors administration have been there to rejoice an company that the World Financial institution says is a mannequin for Africa. Some felt and nonetheless really feel that the Corps can do higher in addressing avoidable and irresponsible driving in our nation. Each the World Financial institution and United Nations recognized such a lacuna equally.

For the previous 37 years of its existence, I’ve been, not only a eager observer of the tides and waves of this big organisation, but additionally an insider, a paid employee, or what’s generally called a Common Marshal, though now retired. I’ve been aware of the intricacies, challenges, constraints, hiccups and triumphs of staying related in a continually altering surroundings.

After we clocked 32 years underneath the management of Boboye Oyeyemi in 2020, it was funfare galore. Nevertheless, after we clocked 36 years in 2024 underneath the management of Dauda Biu, the purple carpets weren’t rolled whereas glasses didn’t click on. Neither did the drum beat. There was no toast, solely sober and low key occasions in honour of the FRSC quite a few strides regardless of hiccups.

I recall with nostalgia, the occasion celebrating the Corps twenty fifth anniversary the place, speaker after speaker, described the Corps as a delight. Jonathan in addition to Babangida, and different dignitaries eulogised the Corps for serving to to form the face of Nigerian roads from what it was in 1988 when the annual statistics on street visitors crashes was 25,792

In line with the Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, that knowledge has considerably been decreased through the years. Throughout a media parley to mark 37 years of service, he expressed his elation on the Corps’ stride and recounted the numerous enlargement from 16 sector instructions to 37.

He additionally recalled the enlargement from 5 Zonal Instructions to 12, the motion from its 1st nationwide headquarters in Ibadan to Gbagada in Lagos and the ultimate motion to Abuja in 1992. At 37, we have now not simply expanded however at present, boast of 1,102 operational autos.

They comprise 157 administrative autos, 754 patrol autos, 143 ambulances, and 48 tow vans, in addition to 59 Emergency Ambulance (Zebra) Factors. There are additionally Highway Facet Clinics (RTC) and Nationwide Site visitors Radio 107.1 FM .Only in the near past, the FRSC Cell Software for real-time reporting and replace on visitors conditions was lately birthed by the present Corps Marshal. Our social media handles and the 122 toll free quantity are very important devices in driving strong engagement with the general public.

In line with the FRSC helmsman, this development is a testomony to the Corps dedication to its mission. Underneath his watch, he reeled out the institution of digital paperwork which has improved operational and administrative effectivity, the FRSC sponsored invoice on the necessity for FRSC Armed Squad in addition to different improvements to drive down deaths and accidents. But, he acknowledged that there’s nonetheless work to be finished.

As we mirror on 37 years of policing our roads, I’m elated to have been a part of a crop of Nigerians described by Punch Newspaper in considered one of its editorials as “an assemblage of one of the best street security specialists in sub-Saharan Africa.” As I mirror on my years within the Corps since porting from the defunct Harmony Press Restricted over 28 years in the past to hitch the companies of the Corps, and God’s divine mercy upon us in striving to fulfill this mandate, I additionally mirror on an editorial by ThisDay celebrating the Corps after we clocked 25 years which just like the Punch editorial, aptly captures our place in historical past.

At 25, the FRSC has made greater than passing impression on Nigerian street customers. The fee’s campaigns have helped in decreasing the carnage on our roads and have made travelling by street, particularly throughout festive durations similar to Sallah and Christmas, much less of a nightmare. So, all components thought-about, the funding has been price it and the creation of the FRSC by the Common Ibrahim Babangida regime can now simply be justified.

The FRSC institutional imaginative and prescient aimed toward eradicating street visitors crashes and making a secure motoring surroundings obtained nice fillip underneath a former Corps Marshal, Mr Osita Chidoka. He has gone past routine administration to deal with the worldwide profile of the company, institutional capacity-building and operational effectiveness.