By Aliyu DANLADI
The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, has directed the deployment of 35, 000 personnel for the agency’s 2018 Eid-El Kabir Special Patrol.
The Corps Public Education Officer, Mr Bisi Kazeem, who disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, said the exercise would hold nationwide between Aug. 17 and 26.
A breakdown of the number shows that 21, 000 are Regular Marshals and 14, 000 Special Marshals.
Kazeem said 948 vehicles made up of 656 patrol cars, 113 ambulances, 156 administrative vehicles and 23 tow trucks, in addition to 204 motorcycles for metropolitan patrols, had also been deployed.
Other facilities rolled out for the patrol are radar guns, breathalysers to check on drunk driving and operational logistics, he explained.
The exercise, according to him, is aimed at effective management of expected upsurge in vehicular and human traffic during the Eid-El Kabir celebrations to reduce road accidents.
He identified wrongful overtaking, use of phone while driving, drivers licence violation, lane indiscipline, driving with expired/worn out tyres and without spare tyres, as some of the offences to be focused on.
He said the corps marshal had equally directed that all Zebras must be active for 24 hours for prompt rescue operations, and respond to emergency calls within the minimum FRSC response time.
Kazeem said the exercise would pay special attention to 40 Federal corridors with high traffic density, including Akwanga-Lafiya-Makurdi, Jos-Bauchi-Gombe, Sokoto-Tambuwal-Jega-Birnin Kebbi, Katsina-Kano-Wudil-Dutse-Azare-Potiskum, and Kaduna-Saminaka-Jos.
Others are Abuja-Kaduna-Kano, Okene-Ogori-Isua-Owo, Makurdi-Otukpo-Obollo Afor-9th Mile, Asaba-Abraka-Ughelli-Warri, Ibadan-Ogere-Sagamu and Sagamu-Mowe-Lagos corridors, among others.
He said: “The Corps has also identified possible alternative routes to ease traffic flow around the major highways.
“They are: Lokoja-Kabba-Ayere-Akunu-Ise-Junction-Ile-are-Ado Ekiti, Lokoja-Kabba-Ayere, 9th Mile-Udi-Oji River-Umunze, Bauchi-Alkaleri-Kaltungo, Kaduna-Kachia-Kwoi-Manchok, Keffi-Nasarawa-Toto-Abaji-Lokoja and Lekki-Epe-Ijebu Ode.
“In line with the foregoing, the patrol is to run in shifts as follows: 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.; 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., and 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.
“Night rescue teams are to be on standby across the 12 Zonal Commands, 37 Sector Commands, 201 Unit Commands, 43 Outposts and 48 Emergency Ambulance Points (Zebras).’’
He said the FRSC would conduct the exercise in collaboration with sister agencies including the police, military, civil defence and DSS.
Kazeem quoted the FRSC boss as advising motorists to be patient on the road and operate within the ambit of the law as the Corps was poised to ensure compliance.
