By Chidi Ugwu
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has announced a strategic deployment of personnel and resources for the 2025 Easter Special Patrol, scheduled from April 16 to 23, 2024.
In a statement, Olusegun Ogungbemide, the statement of Corps Marshal and Corps Public Education Officer, said the Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed directed Commanding Officers to ensure full staff deployment for maximum visibility, prompt removal of obstructions, and ease of movement on all highways nationwide.
The operation aims to reduce road traffic crashes, fatalities, and injuries, provide prompt response to crash victims, conduct impactful public education, and ensure speedy clearance of highway obstructions.
To achieve these goals, the FRSC will enforce traffic laws aggressively, including over 200 Mobile Courts operations targeting offenses such as speeding, dangerous driving, lane indiscipline, phone use while driving, overloading, and operation of unroadworthy vehicles.
According to the statement, logistics for the patrol include over 743 patrol vehicles, 184 administrative vehicles, 92 ambulances, 23 tow trucks, and 144 motorbikes, adding that essential equipment like reflective jackets, traffic cones, tyre pressure gauges, extricating machines, and digital breathalyzers will support the operations.
Additionally, 23 Help Areas and 15 traffic control camps will be manned 24/7 to manage traffic gridlocks and facilitate rescue operations.
A Situation Room at the FRSC National Headquarters will monitor activities nationwide, coordinating with 28 Road Traffic Crash Clinics and 53 Zebra points along major routes, supported by ambulances for rapid emergency response.
Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed emphasized collaboration with strategic stakeholders, including the military, Nigeria Police, DSS, Immigration Service, NSCDC, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, NEMA, state traffic agencies, and emergency services to ensure moral, logistical, and security support.
Expressing confidence in the operation’s success, the Corps Marshal urged Nigerians to cooperate with FRSC personnel and other agencies, assuring renewed commitment to road safety and wishing the public safe and peaceful Easter celebrations.
This comprehensive approach reflects the FRSC’s ongoing efforts under Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed to enhance road safety through visibility, enforcement, public education, and stakeholder collaboration.
“To achieve the aforementioned, over 743 patrol vehicles, 184 administrative vehicles, 92 ambulances, 23 tow trucks and 144 motorbikes are being deployed as part of the patrol logistics.
“Furthermore, reflective jackets , traffic cones, tyre pressure gauges, a number of extricating machines and digital breathalyzers are part of the tools set aside for the special operations.
“Added to the above is, a total of 23 Help Areas mobilised to ensure prompt removal of obstructions, and rescue operations during the period. This, he said, is in addition to the 15 traffic control camps which would be dedicated solely to identifying traffic gridlock areas to be manned by our personnel on 24/7 basis.
“For effective monitoring and prompt response, the Corps has put in place a Situation Room at the National Headquarters to monitor the activities across the country, collate and process information for dissemination to relevant commands and stakeholders as the case may be.
“This is in addition to 28 Road Traffic Crash Clinics and 53 Zebra points located along the major routes. This would be covered by 92 ambulances to be fully utilized for prompt response to crashes and rescue of injured victims to hospitals for more professional attention”.
