FRSC Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed says the agency is seeking approval to arm a special squad of operatives after 240 officers were killed on duty since inception
FRSC Pushes to Arm Officials After 240 Deaths on Duty
The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Shehu Mohammed, says the agency is pushing to arm its officials following the rising number of casualties during operations on Nigerian roads.
Mohammed who revealed this in recent interview with PREMIUM TIMES, noted that a bill currently before the National Assembly seeks to amend the Federal Road Safety Commission Act of 2007 to empower its officers to bear arms.
The bill, sponsored by Abiodun Adesida (APC, Ondo) and Olaide Muhammad (APC, Oyo), has already passed second reading in the House of Representatives.
While critics argue that FRSC should instead partner with other armed agencies such as the police, Mohammed insists that arming some operatives has become a matter of necessity.
“As of last year, I think there were about 200 deaths – personnel who were knocked down, and over 240 from inception. And many were mayhem, while the perpetrators escaped,” he said, stressing that no motorists involved in such incidents have been apprehended.
He explained that the corps plans to arm only a special detachment of officials who would be deployed to intervene when patrol teams face danger.
“It’s only a detachment, a squad, well-trained squad, that can hold an arm and be intervening in case there are issues on the road for us to be able to… In fact, if you recollect, some years back, we even had the armoury, we did the training, most of our staff did the training in Jaji. I did my own in Keffi. Some did in Lagos, some did in Jos, and Enugu. And then they even bought the arms, and then we built an armoury in Gwagwalada. We also employed the service of a retired army colonel,” he said.
The Corps Marshal added that the controlled use of firearms would serve as both a defensive and psychological deterrent.
“Because how can a FRSC marshal stop an articulated vehicle, a tanker, a trailer, especially the ones that are doing mixed loading? You see trucks that have animals, and then maybe even 100 passengers on top. How do you stop those without being armed? … You don’t just give anybody an arm to be on the road. And that’s why I think the public is really not comfortable with FRSC having to hold arms. So we’re also careful, and that’s why I say it’s not everyone who’s going to hold an arm,” he said.
Mohammed also acknowledged public concerns about the potential misuse of firearms but insisted that adequate training and workshops are being held to ensure professionalism and civility among operatives.
On the legislative process, he explained, “As it is today, it has passed all the processes. The House of Representatives has already approved the bill. Now they are taking it to the Senate for concurrence. And that is what we are waiting for.”
The Corps Marshal further called for improvements in officers’ welfare to boost morale and secure equal service opportunities.
“Another thing that one can do to make your staff work for you is to do welfare. Part of that welfare is that if you retire as an assistant corps marshal (ACM), deputy corps marshal (DCM), you should be able to continue to enjoy your salary for life, like police DIGs, AIGs. Now it has been extended to civil defence, immigration. So, we shouldn’t be an exception,” he added. Read More
