FRSC: KADUNA STATE GOVT BARS FRSC FROM OPERATING IN METROPOLIS

MALLAM NASIR EL-RUFAI

Exercising its powers, the Kaduna State Government announced the barring of personnel of the Federal Roads Safety Commission from instituting checkpoints within the city metropolis and Urban areas across the Kaduna state.

This was the outcome of its Council meeting chaired by the state governor, Mallam Nasir Ahmed el-Rufai.

In a statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Samuel Aruwan, the ban also covers the indiscriminate stopping of vehicles for inspection in Kaduna town and directed the FRSC to concentrate its energy on Federal roads and highways and ensure the safety of lives which is the mandate of the commission.

The Council meeting had in attendance the Deputy Governor, Arc. Barnabas Bala Yusuf, the GOC 1 Mechanized Division, Brig-Gen Ismaila Isa, Commander 453 Base Services Group, Nigerian Air Force, Representative of the Commandant, Nigerian Navy School of Armament, Capt SM Ochidi, Commissioner of Police, Mr. Agyole Abeh, State Director DSS, Tijjani Mohammed Wakil and heads of other security agencies in the state.

“Council acted following complaints that FRSC officials were acting in ways reminiscent of the VIO that was dissolved by the state government following widespread unease at their acts of disrespect for the public and penchant for extortion”.

“In 2016, the Federal Government acceded to requests from the Kaduna State Government and re-designated the Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway (the Western Bye-pass) and Ahmadu Bello Way as state roads. Residents complain that FRSC officials create needless traffic bottleneck on these state roads”.

“Similarly, the Council has directed that transporters should stop loading firewood, tomatoes and other goods on top of petrol tankers throughout the state. The Council drew the attention of the public to hazards such practices pose to lives and property”.

“The Security Council added that these actions became necessary after reviewing the trend, and noting concerns expressed by citizens over the undue hardship and accidents people have been exposed to at FRSC checkpoints and from reckless tanker drivers”. 

“The Security Council, therefore, mandated security agencies to ensure compliance with these directives, and relevant agencies were also directed to impound defaulting tankers”, the statement read.

With this development, many residents are however concerned as to the powers of the state government to unilaterally bar federal agencies from carrying out their duties as enshrined by Acts establishing them. Some of the residents spoken to, recalled the unwholesome activities of the Vehicle Inspection Officers which lead to their abolishment in Kaduna and their assignments taken over by the Kaduna State Traffic and Environmental Law Enforce Agency (KASTELEA) whose responsibilities traffic control, paper checks and many others.

A concerned resident however draws the attention of the state government on the way some officers of KASTELEA are beginning to constitute themselves in manners reminiscent to that of the sacked VIO’s and their dress appearances.

As it appears, many have however expressed concerns on the barring/removal of personnel of FRSC from within the city metropolis as their presence are considered necessary to checkmate many reckless drivers who refuse to obey laws on the roads.