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By Moses Akaigwe
In response to the urgent need to halt the rising cases of traffic infractions occasioned by the use of trailers to convey passengers, the Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Dauda Ali Biu, has inaugurated a Joint Task Force (JTF) to arrest and prosecute offenders.
The joint task force comprises of the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, State Traffic Management Agencies, and operatives of the corps. Others who were drafted into the task force include representatives of the various transport unions.
The inauguration of the JTF which is in phases commenced with the commissioning of the team to man Kaduna-Abuja expressway on Saturday, March 23, at Kakau Toll Gate, Kaduna State.
Speaking at the occasion, the Corps Marshal who was represented by the Assistant Corps Marshal, Federal Operations, ACM Zubairu Mato, underscored the cardinal role of the joint task force.
According to Biu, in the last couple of months, the highways have witnessed incidences of road traffic crashes involving trailers loaded with goods, animals and persons.
In most of these crashes, several innocent people who were seen perching on top of goods in such vehicles, were killed and the commodities being conveyed also damaged extensively.
In order to reverse the ugly trend, members of the JTF were directed to embark on effective special patrol operations as well as conduct mobile court operations on the commissioned route. They are to also ensure immediate prosecution of apprehended offenders.
The exercise will be carried out across major corridors nationwide. Consequently , owners of trailers are admonished to warn their drivers against this traffic violations as the corps will not spare anyone caught in the act.
The Corps Marshal had on Tuesday mandated Sector Commanders to strengthen enforcement and advocacy campaigns nationwide in response to the rising cases of crashes involving heavy duty trailer trucks conveying passengers.
The Corps Marshal’s directive followed the avoidable road traffic crash that occurred on the Abuja-Kaduna expressway on March 18, 2024.
The crash which involved a DAF Trailer occurred as a result of excessive speed, overloading and fatigue. This made the driver to loose control of the wheels thereby crashing into a ditch along the route.
Report from the crash also revealed that it occurred at exactly 1030HRS and involved a total of 172 people all male adults.
Unfortunately, 10 passengers died while 48 victims were rescued with different degrees of injuries
On the strength of the rising spate of this bad road use behaviour, the Corps Marshal has directed Commanding Officers to commence with immediate effect, result-oriented patrol operations, as well as organise adequate mobile court operations alone critical corridors.
