The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has instructed its Commanding Officers to escalate enforcement measures nationwide against the overloading of vehicles and night trips.
Moreover, the corps announced plans to collaborate with stakeholders to raise awareness about the inherent dangers associated with these practices.
FRSC Corps Marshal, Dauda Ali-Biu, issued the directive in a statement released on Monday in Abuja, signed by the Corps Public Education Officer, Assistant Corps Marshal Jonas Agwu.
Ali-Biu emphasised the urgency of the matter following two fatal crashes on Monday resulting in the loss of 17 lives. The incidents occurred at Tashar Yari village along the Zaria-Kano Expressway in Kaduna State and near the Fire Service Academy along the Yangoji-Gwagwalada Expressway in the FCT.
Read Also:
The crash at Tashar Yari village, which happened at 07:36 am, involved a trailer overloaded with grains and 40 passengers sitting atop the goods. The trailer, registered as KTG 454 ZZ, was on a night trip from Azare when it crashed due to reckless overtaking, surpassing legal speed limits, and overloading. Out of the 40 passengers, 12 perished, while 28 sustained varying injuries and were taken to Makarfi General Hospital for treatment.
The accident on the Yangoji-Gwagwalada expressway occurred around 04:35 am when a speeding J5 bus on a night trip collided with a stationary trailer, erupting into flames. Five victims suffered fatal burns.
Ali-Biu expressed concern over the prevalence of road accidents caused by night trips, overloading, and flagrant disregard for legal speed limits. He outlined the hazards associated with night journeys, including poor visibility, driver fatigue, excessive speed, and delayed post-crash response.
“To tackle this menace, I have instructed commanding officers to intensify enforcement, engage stakeholders, and ensure robust advocacy,” he affirmed.
In a separate development, the corps marshal decorated Muhammed Kabo, the newly appointed Deputy Corps Marshal representing the North East, along with six Assistant Corps Marshals promoted in the 2023 exercise.
