The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Thursday impounded no fewer than 50 vehicles within two hours along the Giri–Gwagwalada–Lokoja highway as it began a nationwide clampdown on overloading and other traffic violations.

The operation marked the commencement of a 30-day enforcement exercise aimed at reducing road crashes during the Christmas and New Year season.

Speaking during the inauguration in Abuja, the Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the FRSC would no longer tolerate what he described as “madness” and “rascality” associated with overloading on Nigerian roads.

Mr Mohammed, visibly angry at motorists’ attitude, particularly articulated vehicle drivers, directed the unloading of the goods and passengers.

He said the corps had sought the cooperation of key transport unions, including the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) and the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), to support the operation.

The corps marshal noted that appropriate steps would be taken to ensure that those removed from the overloaded vehicles received transport fare to their destinations.

Mr Mohammad said the enforcement would run daily, round the clock, until January 15, with officers deployed across all major routes.

“The 50 vehicle impoundments reflect the scale of violations the corps plans to address nationwide. The leadership of RTEAN has made adequate provision to ensure that passengers do not bear the consequences,” he said.

The corps marshal said traffic offenders would be prosecuted immediately through mobile courts already established in all 37 sector commands, including the FCT.

He said judicial officers assigned to the courts would impose penalties on drivers found guilty of offences.

“Such offences are overloading, speeding, drink-driving, driving under the influence of drugs, and driving without a valid licence or up-to-date vehicle papers.

“Also, drivers usually receive a reminder two weeks before their vehicle papers expire and are expected to renew them promptly. Anyone caught with expired documents during the operation will be fined,” he said.

The FRSC boss emphasised that passengers in overloaded vehicles would not be punished, saying the corps’ buses would convey them back to motor parks, while transport unions would pay their fares to their destinations.

Mr Mohammed added that although the operation was intensified for the festive period, the crackdown would continue beyond January to restore sanity on the roads.

Speaking, the RTEAN president, Musa Mohammed, pledged full support for the FRSC in its ongoing nationwide enforcement against overloading and other traffic violations.

Mr Mohammed said the association joined the FRSC operation due to the rising number of fatal crashes in the country.

The RTEAN boss urged commuters to use only recognised garages and avoid entering vehicles from roadsides to reduce exposure to “one-chance” criminal activity.

In his remarks, Sulaiman Danzaki, senior special adviser on intergovernmental and international matters of NURTW, said the union regularly advised the FRSC on strategies to reduce road accidents on Nigerian highways and commended the corps for its tremendous efforts in implementing policies.

(NAN)