The House of Representatives has approved a bill for its second reading that allows the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to establish a specialized armed unit.
The legislation, put forward by Representatives Abiodun Derin Adesida and Olaide Lateef Muhammed, is intended to revise the FRSC Act of 2007 to grant the corps enhanced authority and operational capabilities.
Key elements of the bill encompass the creation of the FRSC Special Armed Squad and the improvement of benefits for officers at the rank of Deputy Corp Marshal, including retirement perks.
Furthermore, it aims to assign the FRSC with the sole responsibility for managing road traffic, minimizing road accidents, overseeing road users, and enforcing traffic laws on public thoroughfares.
In addition, the bill would authorize the FRSC to remove road blockages and inform the public about safe road practices.
The bill garnered unanimous backing during the voice vote, enabling its progression to the second reading.
In a related matter, the House approved a motion introduced by Representative Garba Ibrahim Muhammad, urging the FRSC to enhance its use of technology in enforcing road safety.
The motion called for the FRSC to implement systems like Automatic Vehicle Location, Automated Traffic Enforcement, advanced data analytics, and other tech-based solutions.
The aim is to boost the effectiveness of enforcement, decrease traffic infractions, and improve road safety.
The motion has been referred to the House Committee on FRSC for additional consideration.
