The Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, says it is out to prosecute abusers of sirens and convoys across the federation .
Oyeyemi made this disclosure on Wednesday at a news conference on the
recently concluded end of the year activities in Abuja.
He said that the organisation would work with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF)
to ensure that offenders are prosecuted accordingly and the act is reduced to
the barest minimum.
According to him, most abusers of convoys and sirens are not government
officials, but mainly private individuals, who are unauthorised to use convoys
in the country.
“We have seen a lot of people abusing the use of convoys and we have taken it
up to the appropriate authority; this year, we would take a more drastic action.
“Abuse of convoys and sirens are abuse of freedom of movement and an
intimidation to road users and citizens across the country and this act must
stop,’’ he said.
Oyeyemi said that the act was an act of lawlessness that is clearly against the
regulation of entitlement to escort.
He said that those found guilty in 2020 would be brought to book with their
vehicles impounded and the drivers prosecuted according to law.
Oyeyemi lamented that during the end of the year special patrol operation; no
fewer than 690 offenders were prosecuted while 629 others were convicted by
the FRSC mobile court in some states with fines.
He lauded the use of Google map but cautioned against hand-held driving
usage of the map, saying that anyone caught by FRSC would also be arrested
and prosecuted.
“The use of Google map while driving is allowed, but hand-held driving and
usage are offences associated with driving and anyone caught would face the
law squarely.
“If you must use Google map while driving, you must get the car-holding
phone devices which is both for your safety and for better usage of the device
and the application,’’ he said.
He reiterated that the law was very clear and offenders of any of the road
traffic rules and regulations regardless of status would be penalised and would
also be subjected to an emotional psychology evaluation.
