By Emma Okereh
The federal government, Thursday, commissioned a total number of three hundred and sixteen (316) operational vehicles for the Federal Road Safety Corps in pursuit of federal government’s safety agenda.
A breakdown of the operational vehicles shows that the 239 patrol cars, 49 ambulances, 23 tow trucks and 5 patrol Bikes were unveiled which the Acting Corps Marshal, Dauda Ali Biu promised, ‘’would surely beef up the operational capability of the Corps’’.
While commissioning the operational vehicles, Secretary of the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, expressed delight at what he described as a historic day in the road management with the commissioning of the vehicles that are meant for safety of lives. He charged the Corps to deploy it to all the states of the federation and ensure that they are put to good use as it will boost the operational activities of the corps.
While congratulating the management of the corps under the leadership of Biu, the SGF urged it to sustain the tempo and standard in its approach to road safety management just as he emphasised that transport infrastructure is a key determinant to economic transformation.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Acting Corps Marshal, DCM Dauda Ali Biu recalled that some 34 years ago, the Corps set for its self an ambitious target of self-transformation into a world class organization which was later given a push following a country capacity review and Needs Assessment of the corps conducted by the World Bank few years ago.
He stated that in line with the contemporary trend in road safety and the giant strides taken to reposition the corps for maximum productivity, ‘’the FRSC is deploying more operational vehicles as another attempt to enhance the overall patrol operations and to improve coverage and visibility on 204,000 kilometres of roads nation wid’’. He further stated that it will also assist the corps operatives to seamlessly monitor and patrol their operating environment to further reduce road traffic crash fatality in line with goal 1 of FRSC 2022 Corporate Strategic Goals and the vision of Pilla1 of Nigeria Road Safety Strategy 11 (2021-2030) which he described as a great social investment by the president Muhammadu Buhari administration for the safety and well-being of its citizens.
He stressed that the Muhammadu Buhari administration has continually showed commitment to the realization of a safer motoring environment in the country by supporting the operations of the Corps on all fronts.
‘’Prior to the recent approval, the administration has supported the corps with a total of 705 vehicles comprising of 595 patrol vehicles, 61 ambulances, 39 patrol Bikes and 10 tow trucks to enhance both operational and administrative activities of the corps. The recent approval for the procurement of additional 316 vehicles through the 2022 intervention fund, speaks volume of the determination of the present government towards the eradication of crashes and fatalities on our roads’’. He said.
He saids that the Corps hope to acquire more vehicles and expand its frontiers until full coverage of all operational commands is attained stressing that the inauguration represents a major break-through in the Corps quest for improved service delivery and enforcement processes.
The event featured delivery of goodwill messages from the Chairman of FRSC board, Buhari Bello, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, represented by Dr Abdulateef Bello, Minister of Works and Housing, represented by Ebere Izunobi and the Inspector- General of Police who was represented by the AIG Operations, Bala Ciroma.
