The House of Representatives has passed a bill for the second reading that seeks to establish a special armed squad for the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and introduce several provisions aimed at improving the agency’s operations.
The bill, co-sponsored by Reps. Abiodun Derin Adesida and Olaide Lateef Muhammed, amends the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Act of 2007.
One of the key highlights of the bill is the creation of a Special Armed Squad for the FRSC, empowering the agency with enhanced enforcement capabilities.
It also proposes benefits for officers holding the rank of Deputy Corps Marshal, including retirement benefits, and expands the FRSC’s responsibilities for road traffic administration and safety management.
The proposed amendments will give the FRSC the sole responsibility for preventing and minimizing road traffic crashes, supervising road users, and regulating traffic.
The bill further aims to empower the corps to clear obstructions on public roads and educate the public on proper road usage.
During the plenary on Thursday, the bill received unanimous support from the lawmakers, passing a voice vote for its second reading.
The House also adopted a motion by Rep. Garba Ibrahim Muhammad, urging the FRSC to incorporate more technology into its operations, such as Automated Vehicle Location and Automated Traffic Enforcement Systems, as well as advanced analytics and data platforms.
The motion emphasized the need for FRSC to evaluate its enforcement strategies to determine if technology-assisted methods lead to improved road safety and reduced traffic violations.
The bill and motion were subsequently referred to the House Committee on FRSC for further consideration.