August 17, (THEWILL) – The Sector commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, Ibrahim Usman, has said the commission would not deviate from the norms and Bayelsans should not see its activities as witch-hunt.
He stated this while speaking to journalists on the recent face off with the tricycle riders ( Keke Napep) in Yenagoa, the state capital.
According to him, the mandate of FRSC is to protect life and properties on Nigerian roads and that mandate is clear, adding that as far as the commission is concerned in the state, its mandate is to enforce the road traffic laws within the ambit of the law. “And we have the mandate to enforce these laws, but what we found out is that most road users do not want to obey the laws.”
He further stated that these laws are made in such a way that they are applicable to Nigerians and Bayelsans inclusive, as the commission has not created any law for only Bayelsa state, as they are national laws.
In his reaction, he said what happened in Bayelsa and which led to the recent crisis, was that tricycle riders after series of meetings with them, have declined to obey the laws which include, overloading, operating without licences, rule violations and obstructions, and that the command will continue to object infringements.
“We said Bayelsans are law abiding citizens and knowledgeable, but they want to infringe on the laws.”
“In several fora, I’ve had cause to counsel them on what could cause accidents, among which majorly is over loading and statistics have shown that most accidents, fatal ones are traceable to over loading, as excess passengers is detrimental.
“The manufacturer and road worthiness law says the tricycle can only carry four persons including the rider and this is flagrantly ignored.”
He said the main concern of FRSC is that statistics available at Federal Medical Center (FMC) and other hospitals, showed that these crashes were traceable to over loading of the tricycles and we have not relented in educating them on the dangers of over loading and this crusades have been taken to motor parks, churches and mosques, as well radios and televisions.
“Consequences of accidents are grave, hence we cannot allow a group of persons to cause death and maim innocent persons. It is our duty to enforce traffic laws.”
On allegation that its men collect #10,000 from any tricycle rider carrying passengers in front, he said that constitutes an offence, and that they are ignorant of the laws that constituted offences such as over loading is an infringement.
He, therefore, appealed to road users in Bayelsa to obey traffic laws and for a harmonious relationship, they should obtain their valid driving licences, as well as avoid over loading and other offences, as no FRSC officer will consifiscate any tricycle or vehicle without committing an offence.
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