The Federal Road Safety Corps has deployed road marshals with about 750 patrol vehicles, 120 ambulances, 25 tow trucks and 200 bikes for nationwide special operations during the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.
The Corps Public Education Officer, Bisi Kazeem, disclosed this in a statement he issued on Sunday in Abuja.
Mr Kazeem said the deployed personnel, bikes and vehicles would be on the road during the special operation that would start from June 26 to July 1.
He added that FRSC mobilised its personnel for the 2022 Eid-El-Kabir celebration to enhance visibility and guarantee safe travel for all road users before, during and after the festivity.
He quoted the Corps Marshal, Dauda Ali Biu, as mandating the marshals to “enhance visibility and guarantee safe travels for all road users before, during and after the celebration.”
Mr Biu said the special patrol operation was to ensure a reduction in road traffic crashes, road traffic fatalities, road traffic injuries and speedy removal of obstructions from the highways, among others.
He said that the FRSC had over the years developed this tradition of organising special patrol operations during festive periods to avert chaos on the roads.
“As such, this year’s Eid-el-Kabir would not be an exemption. Motorists must endeavour to avoid traffic violations and remain conscious of their safety.
Biu said that the corridors to be covered included Akwanga-Lafiya-Makurdi, Jos-Bauchi-Gombe, Sokoto-Tambuwal-Jega-Birnin Kebbi, Katsina-Kano-Wudil-Dutse-Azare-Potiskum and Kaduna-Saminaka-Jos.
He said that the corps had deployed operational equipment such as radar guns and breathalysers to put checks on drunk driving, wrongful overtaking, use of phones while driving, driver’s licence violations, lane discipline, driving with expired or worn-out tyres and without a spare tyre.
He also advised the personnel to ensure the removal of rickety vehicles on the road and that all zebra crossings were active and responding to emergency calls within the minimum FRSC response time.
The corps marshal urged motorists to obey all traffic rules and regulations and cooperate fully with the FRSC and other law enforcement agencies that would be deployed for traffic management duties.
He said that mobile courts would be in session across the country to try recalcitrant traffic violators.
He further stated that the National Traffic Radio 107.1 FM will continue to operate 24/7 to give real-time traffic updates while advising travellers to take advantage of the station, situation office numbers: 07054005754, 07054005712 08056294021/08056295022, and the FRSC Toll-Free Number 122 to report any obstruction, crash or gridlock witnessed on the road for the prompt intervention of the nearest Command.
