The House of Representatives has approved a bill for the second reading aimed at establishing a specialized armed unit within the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).
Sponsored by Representatives Abiodun Derin Adesida and Olaide Lateef Muhammed, the proposed legislation seeks to amend the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Act of 2007 to facilitate the creation of this squad.
The bill would also ensure that FRSC officers holding the rank of Deputy Corp Marshal receive associated benefits, including retirement perks.
Additionally, it aims to grant the FRSC the exclusive authority over road traffic management and safety, focusing on preventing and reducing traffic accidents, supervising road users, and regulating traffic flow.
Moreover, the legislation would empower the FRSC to remove obstructions from public roads and educate drivers and the general public about the proper use of these roads.
The bill received unanimous support from members following a voice vote during its second reading.
In a related development, the House also adopted a motion proposed by Rep. Garba Ibrahim Muhammad, which urged the FRSC to enhance its operations through greater use of technology.
The motion encourages the adoption of technologically-assisted enforcement methods, such as Automatic Vehicle Localization and Automated Traffic Enforcement systems, as well as advanced data analytics platforms.
It also calls for an assessment of the effectiveness of these enforcement strategies to determine if technology can help reduce traffic violations and enhance safety.
The motion was referred to the House Committee on FRSC for further consideration.
