TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT: FRSC, OTHERS, NOT YOUR ENEMY – SECTOR COMMANDER OGUNGBEMIDE TELLS NIGERIANS
By Oki Samson, Trek Africa Newspaper
Sector Commander, FRSC Lagos, Olusegun Ogungbemide
The Sector Commander of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Lagos Command, Olusegun Ogungbemide has called for a change in the prevalent mindset in the society against Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other partner agencies across states. He enjoined all Nigerians to see them as allies rather than enemies. The Sector Commander made the appeal at the Road Safety Stakeholders Meeting organized by Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS) under the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation held recently in Lagos covered by Oki Samson of Trek Africa Newspaper.
Mr. Olusegun Ogungbemide started: ‘I have been privileged to attend many media programs and they will always ask ‘why are your people disturbing us, we have LASTMA, VIO, FRSC, Police on the issue of traffic, what is the problem?’ I will usually respond that if all security agencies are pursuing one armed robber, you don’t complain because you feel they are doing it for your sake. But you feel all traffic agencies are against you. It is not true.’
Commissioner of Transportation, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde(m); Director of Vehicle Inspection Service, Engr. Akin George Fashola (6th left); Sector Commander, FRSC Lagos Command, Olusegun Ogungbemide (5th left); Commander of LASTMA, Oki Emmanuel (3rd left); MD/CEO, Lagos Computerized Vehicle Inspection Service, LACVIS, Prince Segun Obayendo (4th right) and others at the VIS Road Safety Stakeholders Meeting held at VIO Office, Ojodu, Lagos.
‘If I tell you the number of deaths on our roads between January and November, you will know why we behave the way we do. In the 1st quarter of 2021 alone, we arrested more than 20,000 people in Lagos alone. I usually say that is an indication that we arrested 20,000 people who could have been involved in one road crash or another. They include those who don’t have wipers, those who have worn out tyres, we are saving lives.’
‘Until you understand from this perspective, you won’t know. Look at it from the positive angle not negative. It is for your good, we are not there to punish you. If you know the number of dead persons that these hands have packed, you will know the reason you ought to praise our efforts’, Mr. Ogungbemide affirmed.
R-L: Commissioner of Transportation, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde; Director of Vehicle Inspection Service, Engr. Akin George Fashola; Sector Commander, FRSC Lagos Command, Olusegun Ogungbemide and others at the VIS Road Safety Stakeholders Meeting held at VIO Office, Ojodu, Lagos.
Addressing leaders and members of NURTW at the VIS stakeholders’ meeting, the traffic controller shared: ‘We went all the way to ensure that each NURTW branch have VIO within its unit. This is because we want you to have addressed the issue internally before we intervene. How come vehicles that are not roadworthy are plying our roads when we have such a system among you? Again, we formed task force with you to arrest those drivers who pick passengers along the road. We created manifests but will technology run around to arrest those drivers. If you recall the time of the EndSARS when all law enforcement agencies left the streets, was it good for us, all. It is obviously not.’
‘This job is not easy. Do you imagine the pure water and stones that have been thrown at me while doing my job? Do you know the charms that have been used against me before I got to this stage? We will retire and leave our jobs but you will remain in your parks for as long as you want but when you see us again, you can judge if we did our jobs well.’
Cross section of NURTW and Road Unions at the VIS Road Safety Stakeholders Meeting
‘Our work has the human face element in it. You will see trailers that don’t have side mirrors, how can you drive a vehicle in such a state? Must you wait for us to fight you on the road to know the right thing to do? No one leaves his/her house to tell you he/she wants to go and sign death warrant.
According to FRSC records, 101 people have died on the roads between January and August’, the Sector Commander remarked about the tough task of traffic management.
