FRSC CORPS MARSHAL VISITS SULTAN OF SOKOTO

The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Boboye Oyeyemi has been invited by the Sultan of Sokoto and Chairman of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Sultan Saad Abubakar 111 to address the Muslim leaders at the forthcoming council’s meeting scheduled to take place in Benin, Edo state. 

The sultan gave the invitation while receiving the Corps Marshal on advocacy visit to his Palace in Sokoto.

In a press release by Bisi Kazeem, Head, Media Relations and Strategy, FRSC, Sultan Abubakar 111 commended the Corps Marshal for his aggressive advocacy programme on road safety, urged him not to rest on his oars until all members of the public appreciate the importance of obedience to traffic rules and regulations and need to show consideration to other road users.

According to him, it is only through consistent public enlightenment programmes that people could realise the importance of road safety and need for them to always operate within the limits of the law, saying what the FRSC is doing through its regular enlightenment programmes is commendable and must be supported by all.

“I want to congratulate you on the success of your last annual lectures series where many people discussed positively on road safety, The programme was a commendable initiative, but you must follow it up with effective implementation of the resolutions reached to spread the message to the grassroots.

“Similar programme should equally be organised at the zonal and sector levels for majority of the people to benefit,” the Sultan further stated.

Sultan Abubkar 111 admonished people not to take their lives for granted, noting that life is one thing that has no duplicate, saying everyone must avoid acts that could compromise their lives. He pledged his support to road safety campaigns, pointing out that as leaders, they have responsibility to guide the people on the need to do the right thing at all times including obedience to constituted authorities and obedience to traffic rules and regulations.

“Religious and traditional leaders have huge influence on their people. FRSC should maximise the benefits of leaders of these institutions to use the platforms to propagate the ideals of road safety.

“I am therefore, inviting you to come and address the Muslim leaders during the forthcoming meeting of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs coming up in Benin, Edo state after the Ramadan fast. This would enable the participants listen to road safety messages from you and for them to propagate them at other Islamic gatherings for the sake of safety of lives ,” he added.

The Sultan frowned at the practice of indiscriminate blockage of roads that pass through villages by members of the communities in the name of restraining speeding vehicles, saying if not immediately checked through standardisation, such practice could degenerate and create greater hazards to road users.

While advising motorists to always obey speed limits, he called on the Ministry of Works and relevant security agencies to address the challenge to avoid causing more hazards to innocent road users.

In his remarks, the Corps Marshal thanked the Sultan for his immense interest in road safety matters, saying his personal attendance at the last FRSC Annual  Lecture Series contributed immensely to its success. He also noted that the Sultan’s admonitions at the programme for the FRSC to make use of the traditional and religious institutions in its propagation of road safety message is being fully implemented by the Corps, pointing out that he has directed the Zonal and Sector Commanders to liaise with traditional and religious institutions in their areas for wider consultations.

According to him, in his desire to implement that guidance, he has written special letter to opinion leaders across board to request them to join the FRSC in the ongoing campaigns, a copy of which he presented to the Sultan. “The central message of the letter to the religious and traditional leaders including government officials is the need for all drivers to drive within the stipulated speed limits; use of seatbelt by all occupants of vehicle and use of good tyres that are neither expired nor improperly gauzed.   

“I have decided to follow up the advocacy with this visit to the Palace today, and to specially thank His Eminence for the personal commitment to issues of road safety.

“I wish to assure His Eminence that we would not relent on this campaign but sustain it with vigour through advocacy visit to relevant stakeholders,” he stated.

The Corps Marshal also expressed dismay at the level of overloading being perpetrated by drivers in the state, noting that adequate measures are being put in place to address the challenge and bring such perpetrators to book. 

While expressing appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari  for his administration’s recent logistics support for the FRSC through procurement of patrol vehicles, tow trucks and ambulances commissioned last month, the Corps Marshal assured that with such empowerment, FRSC has launched vigorous and non compromising enforcement on all roads across the federation.