According to the Head Media Relations and Strategy, Bisi Kazeem, the exercise which is to commence on Monday May 23, 2016, was borne out of the Corps Marshal’s wish to stem the tide of road traffic crashes caused by substandard and expired tyres.
He gave the list of the FRSC’s top management staff as: Deputy Corps Marshal Adei Abu (Operations) who is billed to cover Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa and Katsina; Deputy Corps Marshal Chidi Nwachukwu (Admin and Human Resource) who is to take charge of Edo, Delta, Anambra and Ondo; Deputy Corps Marshal Ojeme Ewhrujakpor (Technical Services and Special Duties) who is to cover Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Abia and Cross River; Deputy Corps Marshal Theophilus Charles (Motor Vehicle Administration) to cover Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun and Kwara; Deputy Corps Marshal Ahmad Kogari Hassan (Special Marshal and Partnership) to cover Adamawa, Taraba, Gombe and Nasarawa; and Deputy Corps Marshal Demola Lawal (Training Standard and Certification)who is placed in charge of Plateau, Bauchi, Borno, and Yobe.
Others are: Assistant Corps Marshal Dr. Kayode Olagunju (Policy Research and Statistics), to oversee FCT, Kogi, Niger, and Ekiti; Assistant Corps Marshal Kayode Fanola (Corps Secretary) to cover Enugu, Imo, Ebonyi, and Benue; and Assistant Corps Marshal Godwin Ogagaogeneh (Personnel) to cover Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara.
Kazeem further added that the Management Staff deployed to field commands are expected to participate in direct supervision of the free safety check exercise, ensure interactive session with Vulcanisers’ Associations, perform free safety check on all major routes in the Commands, address tyre dealers, as well as teach other staff what information to look out for in tyres, and organize motor park rallies.
In view of the foregoing, Kazeem stated that Zonal Commanding Officers are expected to give wide publicity to the exercise, liaise with relevant stakeholders within their areas of jurisdiction and ensure that all component commands under their purview organise massive Special Patrols for free vehicle safety checks during the period.
Kazeem stated that the FRSC campaign became necessary as a result of the fact that most recent road crashes were attributable to tyre blowouts.