Mobilised are among others are special marshals; 806 patrol vehicles; 120 ambulances; 204 motor bikes, and 27 tow trucks.

They will carry out their operations along designated routes as part of measures to ensure sanity on the nation’s highways, during this year’s Christmas and end of the year celebrations.

The Corps Public Education Officer, Bisi Kazeem, revealed that the special patrol scheduled to hold from 15 December 2019 to 19 January 2020 entails 24 hours enforcement along major highways; robust public enlightenment campaigns across the nation; prompt rescue/recovery services; stakeholder collaboration and  Road Safety Observatory.

He said there would also be uninterrupted motorized patrol; day time route lining; traffic control; operation of Mobile Courts; activation of high alert on internal and external medical facilities; establishment of road camps and help areas, arieal surveillance, and purposeful synergy with other security agencies.

He said to achieve the goal of the FRSC, Corps Marshal, Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi, had directed that the 2019 Ember Months campaign be targeted at enforcement on critical offences, such as excessive speeding, dangerous driving, tyre violation, lane indiscipline, road obstruction, use of phone while driving, overloading violation, seatbelt use violation, child safety, passengers manifest violation, mechanically deficient vehicles, and unlatched container carrying vehicles.

Kazeem stated that part of the nationwide special operation was the massive deployment of personnel and logistics along 52 designated critical corridors and black spots such as Lokoja-Benin-Auchi; Abaji-Lokoja; Abuja-Keffi-Akwanga-HawanKibo-Jos; Minna-Birnin-Kebbi-Sokoto-Gusau-Funtua-Zaria; Potiskum-Damaturu; Kabba and Udi-Orji River-Awka-Owo; Ibadan-Ogere-Sagamu; Abuja-Airport Road-Giri and Opi-Junction-Nike-Enugu highways among others identified for the exercise.

Similarly, the Corps identified the alternative routes that can be used by motorists to ease traffic flow: Lokoja-Kabba-Ayere-Akunu-Ise Junction-Ileare-Ado Ekiti-Ilesha; Lokoja-Kabba-Ayere; Lokoja-Okene-Ogori Magongo-Owo; 9th Mile-Udi-Oji River-Ufuma-Umunze; Bauchi-Alkaleri-Kaltungo and Kaduna-Kachji-Kwoi-Manchok.

Others are Keffi-Nasarawa-Toto-Abaji-Lokoja; Lagos-Ikorodu-Sagamu; Lekki-Epe-Ijebu Ode, Sango Ota-Ifo-Abeokuta, Dutse Alhaji-Bwari-Jere, and Dutse Alhaji-Bwari-Kwoi-Kafanchan-Jos.

According to Kazeem, the Corps Marshal had directed its personnel, Commanding Officers, to ensure adequate deployment of logistics and operational materials within their commands to aid the campaign.

The operational materials, he said, were: Patrol vehicles; Advance life support ambulances; Heavy duty tow trucks,  medium and light duty tow trucks; patrol motor bikes; extricating machines; reflective jackets; traffic cones patrolites; radar guns; breathalyzer; cameras; e-tablets; alcolizers; walkie-talkie, and CUG mobile phones.

FRSC warned motorists to ensure strict compliance with all traffic rules and regulations as well as proper maintenance of their vehicles.

Passengers were also enjoined to monitor their drivers’ over reckless driving, driving under the influence of alcohol and other road vices.

Following the need to bridge the existing gap in communication between the motoring public and the corps, Kazeem disclosed that the corps had established the National Traffic Radio 107.1 FM for daily traffic updates for travellers, effective enlightenment and education on best road culture among others.

The station he said, was to serve as a veritable platform for the motoring public to report any obstruction, incidences of crash or traffic-related emergencies.

Members of the public were instructed to, in case of any emergency, call the toll free telephone line 122 and 070022553772 or tune in to the National Traffic Radio 107.1FM and call 08052998090, 09067000015, or visit the social media handles; Facebook TrafficRadio1, Twitter; @TrafficRadio1, Instagram: TrafficRadio1 for prompt response.

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That, according to the Senate, had become necessary to reduce the gridlock on the roads.

The upper chamber also urged Adamu to direct officers of the Police Force to eschew all forms of extortion on motorists as alleged, while carrying out stop and search to establish validity of vehicle particulars.

The resolutions were reached following the consideration of a motion brought to the floor by Senator Chukwuka Utazi (PDP, Enugu North).

Utazi, coming under order 42 and 52 of the Senate standing rules, in his motion titled “National Security versus Disproportionate Road Checkpoints on Federal highways in the country,” said that the national security architecture of Nigeria had been stretched beyond its elastic limits.

According to him, acts of criminalities had put untold pressure on the country’s national security architecture, necessitating and compelling security agencies to confront security breaches headlong.

Utazi noted that as a consequence, there had been the  imposition of road checkpoints on almost all federal highways in all geo-political zones of Nigeria.

The lawmaker stated that while road blocks were necessary to curb criminal activities, its abuse for unintended purpose was reprehensible.

He stated that the Senate “will not renege in our responsibilities when the masses of this country complain that government police meant to protect them has been turned into an oppressive conduct by those concerned and which the IGP and people of his ilk may not be aware.”

Meanwhile, the Senate has referred President Muhammadu Buhari’s request for the confirmation of the appointment of the chairman and members of the National Hajj Commission to its Committee on Foreign Affairs.

The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, referred the request to the committee shortly after the commencement of plenary on Thursday.

The nominees for screening and confirmation are: Zikrullah Olakunke Hassan, Chairman, Osun State, South West; Abdullahi Magaji Hardawa, Executive Commissioner – Operation, Inspection and Licensing; Nura Hassan Yakassai, Executive Commissioner – Policy, Personnel, Management and Finance, Kano State, North West, and Sheikh Momoh Suleman Imonikhe, Executive Commissioner, Planning, Research, Statistics, Information and Library, Edo State, South South.

Part-time members are: Halimat Jibril, Niger State, North Central; Abba Jato, Borno State, North East; Garba Umar, Sokoto State, North West; Ibrahim Ogbonnia Amah, Ebonyi State, South East; Sadiq Oniyesaneyene Musa, Delta State, South South, and Akintunde Basirat Olayinka, Ogun State, South West.

Representatives of Ministries, Departments and Agencies are: Shehu Dogo, Ministry of Aviation; Nura Abba Rimi, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Rabi Bello Isa, Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning; Zainab Ujudud Sherrif, Ministry of Health; Aminu Bako Yarima, Nigeria Immigration Service, and Ibrahim Ishaq Nuhu, Central Bank of Nigeria.

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