
FRSC boss Boboye Oyeyemi
According to Bisi Kazeem, the Head Media Relations and Strategy, FRSC, the Corps Marshal said the Corps had to relax the night travels ban as a result of the yuletide. The earlier resolution was in line with the FRSC’s campaign against night travels.
Oyeyemi said considering the current demand for petroleum products across the country due to heightened movement of people for Christmas and New year celebrations, the Corps would rather strengthen its support to the tanker drivers to ensure that they adhere strictly to the minimum safety standards and drivers operate with professional ethics. He noted that the recent upsurge in tanker crashes was occasioned by fatalities that could have been avoided if the affected tankers were operating with safety valves, saying the spillage caused by the fallen tankers led to inferno that resulted in heavy loss of lives and destruction of property.
“We know that it is impossible to totally avoid tanker crashes in the country; but the impact can be controlled if the drivers adhere to minimum safety standards. That is why we are insisting that all tankers must operate with safety valves,” he stated.
Oyeyemi expressed dismay at the loss suffered by the nation in the aftermath of the 283 tanker crashes that occurred across the country this year, noting that the economic losses from the crashes are frightening. He called on all stakeholders to come together to combat the menace. He identified some factors militating against safe trucking in the country. These include the attitude of some drivers who undermine safety rules by giving their vehicles to motor boys to drive; violation of axle load requirements and operation of mechanically deficient vehicles. “FRSC will operate day and night and work with the stakeholders to ensure that the road remains safe and obstruction-free throughout the period of the celebration and beyond.
He added that part of the measures being taken by the FRSC to address the menace are working with relevant agencies of the government on the regulation on vehicle types to be imported into the country; ensuring that the tankers are well illuminated in the night through the use of retro-reflective tapes; retraining of tanker drivers in conjunction with PTD-NUPENG and ensuring vehicle renewal programme to ensure that tankers of over 30 years most of which are the causes of the crashes are changed.
The FRSC Boss also appealed to driving school proprietors to consider establishing more tanker driving schools in the country, noting that the only one existing tanker driving school in the country is incapable of meeting the training needs of over 4,000 drivers that require professional training.