The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Monday declared a nationwide war against overloading of vehicles and night trips, News About Nigeria reports.
While lamenting the impact of vehicle overload and night journeys, the FRSC directed its commanding officers to step up nationwide enforcement against motorists who overload their vehicles and also embark on night trips.
The directive was given by the FRSC Corps Marshal, Dauda Ali-Biu, in a statement signed by the Corps Public Education Officer, Assistant Corps Marshal, Jonas Agwu, in Abuja.
In the statement, the FRSC Corps Marshal explained that two crashes that happened on Monday, leading to the deaths of 17 people, reinforced the need for the FRSC to go after drivers involved in speeding, overloading, and night trips.
According to him, the two crashes occurred at Tashar Yari village, along the Zaria-Kano expressway in Kaduna State and near the Fire Service Academy, along the Yangoji-Gwagwalada expressway in the FCT.
The accident that happened in Kaduna State, according to the statement, involved a trailer that was reportedly loaded with grains and 40 passengers sitting atop the goods.
In the trailer, which crashed due to wrong overtaking, driving against the legal speed limit and overloading, 12 out of the 40 passengers aboard were killed, while 28 sustained various degrees of injuries and were rushed to the hospital.
The accident in Gwagwalada, Abuja, involved a speeding J5 bus on a night trip which rammed into a stationery trailer and exploded into flames, leaving five victims burnt beyond recognition.
Ali-Biu noted that most road crashes are a result of night trips, overloading, and fragrant violations of legal speed limits.
He further highlighted some of the dangers associated with night trips, including poor visibility, fatigue, speed and delayed post-crash response.
The corps also said it would engage stakeholders to educate motorists on the dangers inherent in the acts.
“In view of the need to address this menace, I have directed commanding officers to step up enforcement, engage all stakeholders and ensure adequate advocacy,” he added.
