by Akintomiwa Agbaje

The Federal Road Safety Commissions (FRSC) Lagos state command said it has mobilised 2,400 personnel for the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway December yuletide patrol.

Mr Chidi Nkwonta told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the step would ensure accident-free period.

He is the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commissions (FRSC).

The Nation reports:

According to him, the personnel, comprising 1,200 Regular Marshals, 1,000 Special Marshals and 200 NYSC Road Safety Club members, began operations on Monday.

Nkwonta added that the command had released 38 patrol vehicles, two tow trucks and two ambulances to arrest any unforeseen situation on the highway.

“Our corporate goal for this festive period is to record zero crash on Lagos-Ibadan highway and that is why we are not leaving any stone unturned.

“We cannot afford to lose precious souls of Nigerians to auto crashes, so effort must be made this year to stop this.

“We have strategically divided the highway among ourselves with a senior officer in each to eliminate auto-crashes which perennially terminate innocent lives of Nigerians, “ the FRSC boss said.

Nkwonta also warned that motorists should expect enforcement of traffic laws, to achieve the corps’ goals of zero crashes.

“FRSC is not an entertainment industry, we are committed to our responsibility; if we keep talking nice and tolerating offences, no one will listen.

“This recurrent loss of lives on our roads must stop; acting with impunity and getting away with it must stop through enforcement,“ he said.

The sector commander urged the road users to obey traffic regulations because traffic offences would attract appropriate penalties.

According to him, drivers should avoid dangerous driving, alcohol intake, overconfidence, use of phones while driving, illegal parking and other actions that were dangerous to safety.

“What we need from drivers is to obey traffic laws for their good and the security of other road users, “ he added.

He advised motorists to be conscious that many incompetent drivers and mechanically deficient vehicles would be on the road.