By Yekini Jimoh
The Federal Road Safety Corps Kogi State Sector Command has redeployed 900 personnel for the yuletide period according to the Sector Commander, Solomon Agure.
The State Sector Command in a statement issued on Wednesday through the Public Education Officer, RS8.3, RC Ayodeji Oluwadunsin, the personnel is made up of both regular and Special Marshals, 20 patrol vehicles, 2 Heavy duty tow trucks, 3 Motorbikes, 3 Ambulances.
Other operational gadgets such as patrollers, rescue materials and many other operational Vehicles and special equipment deployed in partnership with other stakeholders to put the likely traffic/rescue problems under check along the major highways and roads in and across the State identified with traffic bottlenecks.
The Command expressed her readiness to ensure safer roads and fuller lives throughout the yuletide in line with the operational phases of the Corps which are classified into pre-Christmas, Christmas, post-Christmas and the new year operation zero commencing from December 17, 2021, to January 15, 2021.
The Command described the special operation as being germane owing to the high traffic volume with corresponding cases of Road Traffic Crashes, traffic jams/ gridlocks and infractions often committed by motorists that usually characterized the end of the year.
The FRSC boss while extrapolating from the geopolitical location of the State said it is a traffic melting point linking other States across the Federation thereby making traffic challenges in Kogi State critical during the festivities.
The Sector Commander disclosed that the Command has already mapped out strategies targeted at all motorists and other road users passing through the State with the cardinal aim of effectively managing traffic situations and engendering hitch-free movement throughout the festivities as well as prompt response to any emergency that might occur.
The FRSC Boss in the state strongly warned the unscrupulous elements frustrating the goodwill of the Corps to discontinue being anti-safety agents as the Corps will be on the lookout to enforce all traffic violations such as excessive speeding, dangerous driving and overtaking, tyre violations, lane indiscipline/route violation, road obstructions, use of phone while driving, overloading violation, seat belt use violations, child safety, passenger manifest violations, mechanically deficient vehicles violation and conveyance of unlatched containers.
He said that the Command is committed to ensuring free flow of traffic, prompt attention to rescue services and effective clearance of obstructions on the highways during the forthcoming festivities even if its means sleeping on the roads for these to be achieved.
The Sector Commander said that HELP AREAS has also been established to provide assistance to road users generally.
He however advised vehicle’s operators in the State to imbibe the habits of good vehicle maintenance culture through regular vehicle checks and servicing, vehicle pre-use and post-use checks to put a stop to the incessant breaking down of vehicles on the roads.
He also charged motorists to equip their vehicles with fire extinguishers as appropriate and as well desist from any act culpable of causing fire outbreak since we are now in the dry season and harmattan period.
He wished all happy Christmas and a prosperous new year in advance. To ensure a seamless link with the Corps in case of any emergency, he encouraged the public to call the 122 FRSC emergency toll-free line.
