BY CHIJIOKE CHARLES
The Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs has pledged to strengthen legislative oversight of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) following an appeal by the agency for increased funding, modern operational equipment, additional personnel, technology-driven enforcement and legislative support to enhance road safety across Nigeria.
The commitment was made during an interactive session between the committee and the leadership of the FRSC, led by Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed, where both sides examined the Corps’ operational challenges, institutional needs and strategies for reducing road traffic crashes and fatalities.
Chairman of the committee, Senator Ede Dafinone, representing Delta Central Senatorial District, said the engagement was part of the committee’s renewed oversight agenda following the recent reconstitution of Senate committees.
He explained that the exercise was in line with Order 96, Subsection 27, Item 80 of the Senate Standing Orders 2026, which empowers the committee to oversee agencies under its jurisdiction, including the FRSC.
According to Dafinone, the committee intends to strengthen institutional efficiency, improve service delivery and promote accountability through regular oversight visits, investigative hearings, public consultations and policy recommendations.
“We are building relationships with stakeholders in this critical segment of the public service to elicit ideas, share concerns and advance a strategic plan of action for the committee,” he said.
The senator stressed that the committee would continue developing regulatory frameworks capable of improving governance while ensuring sanctions where necessary.
He described the FRSC as Nigeria’s foremost road traffic management agency established under the Federal Road Safety Corps (Establishment) Act, 2007, with statutory responsibilities covering traffic management, crash prevention, rescue operations, public enlightenment, vehicle and driver administration, enforcement of traffic laws and prosecution of offenders.
Dafinone said the committee expected the Corps Marshal to brief lawmakers on the agency’s operational status, workforce capacity, nationwide deployment and areas requiring legislative intervention, adding that issues relating to the ongoing FRSC recruitment exercise would be discussed during a closed-door executive session.
In his presentation, FRSC Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed apologised for arriving late, explaining that an official assignment in Kogi State delayed his arrival.
“Let me sincerely apologise for the delay. It was due to an official engagement involving traveling from Kogi State,” he said.
Mohammed described road traffic crashes as one of Nigeria’s most serious public safety and public health challenges, noting that the country’s vast road network places enormous responsibility on the Corps.
“Our primary mandate is to reduce road traffic crashes and fatalities and create an enabling environment for motorists to travel safely across Nigeria,” he stated.
The Corps Marshal identified inadequate operational funding as one of the agency’s biggest challenges, revealing that the last major procurement of operational patrol vehicles took place in 2013.
“The last time operational vehicles were purchased for the Federal Road Safety Corps was in 2013,” he disclosed.
He said the Corps is gradually transitioning to technology-driven enforcement through the deployment of body-worn cameras, digital monitoring systems and modern command-and-control centres capable of tracking patrol operations in real time.
“We are shifting towards technology-based enforcement using body cameras and modern control rooms that enable us to monitor our operatives in real time,” Mohammed said, while appealing to the National Assembly to support increased investment in technology infrastructure.
The FRSC boss also lamented inadequate manpower, saying the Corps does not have enough personnel to effectively police Nigerian roads.
“Our personnel strength is not adequate for the volume of work before us,” he said.
Among the major requests presented to lawmakers was legislative backing for a bill seeking to allow selected FRSC personnel to bear arms.
Mohammed argued that patrol teams frequently encounter dangerous situations involving criminal elements and heavily loaded commercial vehicles without adequate means of protection.
“The purpose is not to confront motorists but to protect our personnel, facilities and support enforcement operations,” he explained, adding that the bill had already been passed by the House of Representatives and was awaiting Senate consideration.
Responding to questions from senators, the Corps Marshal said road safety enforcement alone cannot solve Nigeria’s transportation problems.
He blamed persistent vehicle overloading on the absence of affordable and efficient public transportation, noting that commuters often have no alternative but to board overloaded vehicles.
“When we stop overloaded vehicles, the passengers ask us, ‘What option do we have?'” he said.
Mohammed admitted that poverty often compels the Corps to exercise discretion in enforcing traffic regulations, as many offenders cannot afford prescribed fines.
He also identified poor literacy levels as a major factor affecting compliance with road safety regulations and called for greater investment in public education and behavioural change campaigns.
“Road safety is holistic. It is not just about enforcement,” he said.
The Corps Marshal further revealed that some government officials and other high-profile individuals routinely violate traffic laws, particularly by ignoring traffic lights.
“Many VIPs do not stop at traffic lights. They often cite security concerns,” he disclosed, noting that FRSC officers often report such violations to relevant authorities.
On driver’s licence administration, Mohammed announced that the Corps had significantly improved production following the replacement of obsolete equipment.
He assured Nigerians that applicants should no longer wait beyond two weeks after biometric capture to receive their licences.
He also disclosed that the FRSC would launch a contactless driver’s licence application system within one month, alongside premium same-day processing services.
“Within the next one month, we will launch and implement the contactless driver’s licence system,” he said.
Mohammed described overloading as one of the Corps’ most difficult enforcement challenges, explaining that the high cost of freight transportation forces many operators to use passenger buses for cargo.
According to him, transporting goods with dedicated trucks can cost about ₦1 million, making passenger vehicles a cheaper alternative for many transporters.
Despite these challenges, he highlighted Nigeria’s growing influence in road safety administration across Africa, disclosing that the FRSC currently plays a leading role in the West African Road Safety Organisation and hosts the secretariat of the African Association of Lead Road Safety Agencies, with several African countries visiting Nigeria to understudy its road safety management system.
During the session, members of the Senate committee proposed extending the validity period of driver’s licences from annual renewal to five or ten years to reduce administrative burdens on motorists and improve operational efficiency.
The lawmakers said the proposal would be considered as part of the committee’s ongoing review of policies affecting agencies under its oversight.
The meeting ended with both the Senate committee and the FRSC reaffirming their commitment to closer collaboration aimed at strengthening road safety governance, improving institutional performance and reducing road traffic crashes and fatalities across Nigeria, while the National Assembly pledged legislative support to enable the Corps to discharge its statutory mandate more effectively.
