The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Zonal Command, says it has deployed 3,339 personnel, 69 patrol vehicles, 18 ambulances, four tow trucks and 24 motorcycles for “Operation Sauka Lafiya”.

The zonal commanding officer in charge of the zone, comprising the FCT and Niger, ACM Comfort Asom, disclosed this at a briefing on Monday in Abuja.

According to Ms Asom, the special operation, code-named “Sauka Lafiya”, which will be inaugurated within the week, is designed to strengthen road safety enforcement within the zone.

“Operation Sauka Lafiya is a special enforcement and public safety operation initiated by the zone to strengthen road safety enforcement, improve traffic management, and protect lives and property within the zone.”

“The FRSC remains committed to its statutory mandate of making Nigerian roads safer through effective patrol operations, strategic enforcement, public education, and prompt emergency response.

“As road traffic continues to increase across the zone, it has become necessary to intensify our operational activities to address traffic violations that contribute significantly to road crashes and congestion.”

The zonal commanding officer said that the operation would reduce road traffic crashes, fatalities and injuries, as well as ensure the free flow of traffic and the arrest of offenders for speeding, overloading, mixed loading, use of phones while driving, route violations and driving without licences.

“The operation is expected to achieve it’s target through enhanced patrol coverage on highways and urban roads, intelligence-driven enforcement, speed management operations, regular vehicle inspections and public enlightenment campaigns.

“The corps believes that preventing crashes is more effective than responding to their consequences,” she said.

She added that the operation would focus on improving traffic movement, particularly within major cities, highways, busy intersections, markets and other congestion-prone locations.

She said that personnel would be deployed to remove traffic obstructions, prevent indiscriminate parking, ensure orderly traffic control, respond promptly to traffic incidents and minimise delays caused by avoidable traffic violations.

“The operation will also see to the arrest and persecution of unlicensed drivers, traffic light violators, those who fail to use seat belts and those who drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol in line with the FRSC Establishment Act and National Road Traffic Regulations.

“The objective is not to punish motorists unnecessarily but to ensure compliance with traffic laws and safeguard public safety,” Asom said.

Ms Asom further said that there would be increased visibility of FRSC personnel around identified black spots and high-risk corridors, while the corps would also collaborate with other agencies where necessary.

She urged road users to obey all traffic rules, ensure their vehicles were roadworthy and cooperate with FRSC personnel to ensure the smooth and effective enforcement of the operation. 

(NAN)