- FRSC redeploys corps spokesman, names replacement
No fewer than 11 people reportedly died in an accident that occurred in the early hours of Tuesday on Jebba/Ilorin Express road.
Seven other passengers were also seriously injured in the fatal accident which involved two vehicles: a DAF Truck and an 18-passenger Toyota Hiace bus.
In another development, six persons have died while 11 sustained injuries in a multiple road crash on the Kaduna-Zaria expressway.
The Ilorin accident, according to the information provided by the Federal Road Safety Corps, occurred at Aiyere village along the Bode-Saadu-Ilorin route at about 4.50 am.
The FRSC said that the crash occurred as a result of wrongful overtaking and speed violation by one of the vehicles.
A statement by the FRSC Public Relations Officer, Kwara Sector Command, Basambo Olayinka, said that the command received the report of the accident in the early morning of Tuesday.
“On receipt of the report of the crash, our operatives at the Help and Rescue Camp (which was established at Bode Saadu to fortify rescue operations during the ongoing end-of-year special patrol operations) were immediately mobilised to the crash scene for the rescue operation, which was carried out in conjunction with men of the Nigerian Police Force, Divisional Headquarter, Bode Saadu.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the Toyota Hiace bus coming from Gombe enroute to Lagos wrongfully overtook another vehicle resulting in a head-on collision with an oncoming DAF Truck.
“A total of 18 people (male adult) were involved, 11 of them sadly lost their lives while seven others were rescued with varying degrees of injury and have been taken to Ifeoluwa Hospital, Bode Saadu, where they are currently receiving treatment.”
The statement said that the sector commander, Stephen Dawulung, has directed a full investigation into the crash which has already commenced.
“The corps and Kwara State Command deeply sympathize with families of the dead and wish the injured quick recovery.”
Dawulung admonished drivers “to drive within the stipulated speed limits, avoid night journeys, and long hours of driving without adequate rest, which can result in fatigue, lack of alertness, poor visibility and poor judgment, as these constitute high-risk factors that result in crashes with high fatality.”
On the Kaduna-Zaria road crash, the FRSC, Kaduna Sector Commander, Kabir Nadabo, said the accident occurred at Aliko filling station on the Kaduna-Zaria expressway on Tuesday at about 06:25hrs.
Nadabo attributed the multiple accidents to speeding and dangerous driving, which resulted in the temporary halting of the movement of motorists.
He, however, said that the road was now free and clear for movement, noting that the rescue team of Zebra 35 Rigachikun responded promptly to the scene and conducted the rescue.
“The initial investigation of the crash revealed that 23 people were involved in the crash, 11 were injured and sadly, all 6 lost their lives,” Nadabo said.
He said that the investigation revealed that the Toyota bus was coming from Ilesha and heading to Batsari, in Katsina State, adding, “The driver was at high speed, lost control and rammed into a moving vehicle, thus causing the crash.”
Nadabo said most of the road traffic crashes on the highway were caused by motorists not from Kaduna State, but mostly from other states and were due to fatigue.
He stated that as the lead agency in transport management and road safety, the FRSC was saddened by this unfortunate but avoidable incident.
“The Corps in Kaduna state will continue to perform its statutory duty of saving lives and properties and most fundamentally, creating awareness on the dangers of Road safety vices and unethical road culture.
“Kaduna state is a critical corridor; therefore the state Command has established instruments of safety that will guide transporters on the importance of safe travels in this yuletide season and beyond.
“Remember, the more we educate motorists on the significance of cultivating safety behavior on the roads, the fewer Road Traffic Crashes will be experienced,” he said.
He called on the stakeholders, particularly the transport unions to help us reach out and advocate the language of safety to their drivers.
Nadabo added that the corps was liaising with media outlets to better inform the public on the dangers of dangerous driving, overloading, driving with worn-out tyres and fatigue caused by long journeys.
He, however, appealed to all categories of road users to abide by safe driving ethics at all times.
The FRSC had in December cautioned motorists against overloading and dangerous driving, including driving at night.
The Corps Marshal, FRSC, Dauda Biu, while he led a special patrol along the Zuba-Kaduna Expressway to ensure compliance with traffic rules and regulations, noted that respect for traffic rules and regulations would ensure safer highways and free flow of traffic.
FRSC redeploys corps spokesman, names replacement
Meanwhile, the Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps, Dauda Biu, has approved the redeployment of the Corps Public Education Officer, Deputy Corps Marshal Bisi Kazeem.
Kazeem was replaced by the Assistant Corps Marshal in charge of Command Administration and Strategies, Assistant Corps Marshal Jonas Agwu.
A Tuesday statement disclosed that the redeployments were done to boost existing efforts of the Corps towards creating a safer motoring environment.
The statement signed by Charles Edem, the Corps Commander, Deputy Corps Public Education Officer, FRSC Headquarters in Abuja, added that the redeployments were part of the FRSC’s strategic initiatives targeted at ensuring full realisation of the corporate strategic goals of the Corps for 2024.
The statement read, “The redeployed senior officers include, Deputy Corps Marshal (DCM) Shehu Alkali Zaki, the erstwhile Deputy Corps Marshal in charge of Training Department is henceforth to oversee the affairs of the Department of Operations.
“The former Corps Public Education Officer, Deputy Corps Marshal Bisi Kazeem, is to proceed as the DCM in charge of the Training Department at the National Headquarters, Abuja.
“In addition to the above, the Corps Marshal also approved the redeployment of the former Assistant Corps Marshal in charge of Command Administration and Strategies, Assistant Corps Marshal Jonas Agwu, to take over the administration of the Corps Public Education Office hitherto held by Deputy Corps Marshal, Bisi Kazeem.
“You would recall that this redeployment of the outgoing Corps Public Education Officer, recently appointed Deputy Corps Marshal, marks his first deployment on the new rank.
“Expectedly, the Corps Marshal expressed confidence in the capacity and experiences of the newly redeployed senior officers to deliver on the mandate as he charged them to bring their professional expertise for impactful leadership.
“The redeployment is with effect from January 15, 2024, which marks the end of the ongoing Operation Zero Tolerance Special Patrol.”
