El-Rufai bars FRSC from Kaduna roads

The Kaduna State Security Council presided over by Governor Nasir El-Rufai, yesterday barred the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) from erecting checkpoints in Kaduna metropolis and other urban centers in the state.

The order prohibits FRSC personnel from stopping vehicles for inspection in Kaduna town.

A statement signed by Samuel Aruwan, media aide to the Kaduna State governor said stopping of vehicles indiscriminately by FRSC official had been responsible for avoidable traffic congestion and accidents in the metropolis and advised FRSC officials to concentrate their energies in ensuring safe travel on highways such as the AbujaKaduna expressway.

Aruwan explained in the statement that the council acted following complaints that FRSC officials were acting in ways reminiscent of the VIO that was dissolved by the state government following widespread unease at their acts of disrespect for the public and penchant for extortion.

“In 2016, the Federal Government acceded to requests from the Kaduna State Government and redesignated the Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway (the Western Byepass) and Ahmadu Bello Way as state roads. Residents complain that FRSC officials create needless traffic bottleneck on these state roads,” he said.

The council also directed transporters to stop loading firewood, tomatoes and other goods on top of petrol tankers throughout the state, drawing the attention of the public to the hazards such practices pose to lives and property.

“The Security Council added that these actions became necessary after reviewing the trend, and noting concerns expressed by citizens over the undue hardship and accidents people have been exposed to at FRSC checkpoints and from reckless tanker drivers. The Security Council, therefore, mandated security agencies to ensure compliance with these directives, and relevant agencies were also directed to impound defaulting tankers,” he added.

Reacting to the resolution of the State Security Council, the sector commander of the Kaduna State Command of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Francis Udoma said that the commission would comply with the order.

He however clarified that mobile courts on the roads and the enforcement of installation of speed limiter had been mistaken as checkpoints and exploitation by some residents of the State.

“Speed violation remains a major challenge and we believe that with the speed limiter installed, it will reduce to the barest minimum the rate of accidents on the roads. We have mobile courts and not checkpoints,” he reiterated.