The
Federal Safety Corps (FRSC) says it has not indicted or blacklisted any major
transport operator in the country for accident related issue.
Mr
Bisi Kazeem, the Head, Media and Strategy of FRSC gave the clarification on
Wednesday, while reacting to report that the corps had blacklisted ``Peace Mass
Transit Operator’’ for involvement in accidents.
Kazeem,
however, clarified that the company was involved in 10 accidents in the last
six months which claimed 22 lives and not 37 people.
He
said the corps had invited and interface with the PMT on the incident.
``The
essence of this clarification is just to make Nigerians know that contrary to
the way it was reported, FRSC never indicted PMT and FRSC never blacklisted
PMT.
``It
is a routine interface when we noticed upsurge in road traffic accidents
involving PMT and which is not limited to them.
``We
came out with a statistics to show that about 22 people were killed (in
accident involving PMT) in recent time.
``But
unfortunately, when we sent the press release out, there was an error where 37
were mentioned. It is actually 22.
``As
a responsible and responsive organization, we felt, we should correct the
mistake because we are not here to spoil business for anybody. Our own concern
is safety and way forward,’’ Kazeem said.
According
to him, once we - FRSC observe a trend, may be a particular fleet operator is
getting more involved in crashes than expected where more lives are being lost
such organisation is invited.
He
explained that was being done through a department in the corps, Road Transport
Safety Standardisation Scheme (RTSSS) being supervised by the Corps Transport
Standardisation Officer (CTSO).
``So,
having known through our record through the RTSSS that Peace Mass Transit of
recent have been getting involved in accidents with some lives lost, a letter
of invitation was sent to them,’’ he said.
Kazeem
said that other fleet operators had been invited in the past to give reason for
their incessant involvement in accidents.
``As
I am talking to you, another six major fleet operators are being invited to
Abuja in the next one week for the same purpose,’’ he said.
The
FRSC and PMT met on July 13 following incessant involvement of the some
vehicles in the fleet of the company in accidents.
They
had in a communiqué, thereafter, agreed for the continuous inspection of the
company vehicles by the corps to ensure compliance with RTSS by the company,
among others
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Society