Bauchi warns against extortion of drivers

Distributes 655 tricycles, 154 commercial buses

From Rauf Oyewole, Bauchi

BAUCHI State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has warned the police and officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps ( FRSC) against extortion of drivers.

Mohammed gave the warning while distributing 655 tricycles and 154 commercial buses to beneficiaries yesterday as part of efforts to ease transportation in the state.

He said: “I want to call on other enforcing agencies like the Federal Road Safety Corps to do same. I have noticed that sometimes they stay within the town collecting money from drivers and forcing them into unnecessary problems.

“I will not allow that. I have already initiated discussion with the state House of Assembly and the Chief Judge. We are going to come up with executive orders that will make us safe and secure in all aspects of our national lives. We must do that in order to provide some succour to our people.”

The governor decried activities of law enforcement agents, adding: “But I’m calling on them publicly that I will not stay aloof and allow my people to be subjected to the agony of collection unnecessarily.”

He appreciated the Federal Government for providing monetary assistance to the state for execution of projects.

Mohammed stated: “People are asking me where I’m getting extra money. I’m getting the same resources like other states. I want to acknowledge the contribution of the World Bank, which has given the state governments some resources in terms of performance, and we are supposed to build SMES and institutions.”