BLACK CHRISTMAS: 187 Persons Dead So Far In Just 9 Days

Don’t Over-speed, Don’t Overtake recklessly, Don’t Overload.

Nigeria's Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, says 187 lives were lost in 289 road crashes across the country during the Yuletide. It stated that the crashes which involved 2,185 victims, occurred between December 19 and 27, 2016, adding that 998 people were rescued by the FRSC personnel while 1,000 others sustained varying degrees of injuries.

The Head, Media Relations and Strategy, FRSC, Bisi Kazeem, in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, stated that 9,619 offenders were arrested for 10,970 offences, adding that 1,426 offenders were arraigned in mobile courts.

He further explained that 1,292 offenders were convicted, five imprisoned, while 129 were discharged.

Kazeem said the Corps Marshal, Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi, commended the FRSC operatives for their commitment and motorists for complying with traffic rules and regulations during the nine-day nationwide patrol exercise along designated routes of the nation’s highways.

He said, “As of December 27, 2016, a total number of 289 road traffic crashes had been recorded involving 2,185 number of people with 1,000 people injured, 998 people were rescued alive and 187 people died. In the same vein, 9,619 offenders were arrested for 10,970 offences with 1,426 offenders arraigned in mobile courts, 1,292 were convicted, five imprisoned and 129 of them were
discharged.

“The FRSC Corps Marshal, Oyeyemi, noted that the massive deployment of personnel produced positive outcomes from the Lagos-Ibadan corridor to 9th Mile in Enugu, Onitsha head bridge and Sagamu construction areas, Ondo roundabout, Ore, Asaba among other corridors.”

Kazeem quoted Oyeyemi as urging the corps’ personnel to remain steadfast in their commitment during the New Year exercise while admonishing motorists to ensure sustained compliance with traffic rules and regulations, proper planning and management of trips through maintenance of their vehicles during the last phase of the patrol exercise.

To further achieve safe road use during the period, he said that the FRSC had scaled up its strategies for effective patrol of the highways, warning motorists and other categories of road users to desist from all road vices such as overloading, speed limit violation, non-use of seat belt, night trips, route violation (driving against traffic), and making or receiving calls while driving.

“The public is also reminded to call the FRSC toll free emergency number 122 and 070022553772 to report any road crash or any other traffic-related challenges, for prompt response.”