The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Shehu Mohammed, says the corps is pushing for its personnel to be armed in order to curb rising fatalities among its officials during operations on Nigerian roads.
Mr Mohammed disclosed this in an interview with PREMIUM TIMES against the backdrop of a bill before the National Assembly seeking to amend the Federal Road Safety Commission Act of 2007 to empower FRSC officers to bear arms.
The bill, sponsored by Abiodun Adesida (APC, Ondo) and Olaide Muhammad (APC, Oyo), has already passed second reading in the House of Representatives and awaits concurrence by the Senate.
According to the FRSC boss, the corps has lost more than 240 personnel since its inception, with over 200 deaths recorded in the last year alone. He said many operatives were deliberately run over by motorists, with none of the perpetrators brought to justice.
“As of last year, I think there were about 200 deaths – personnel who were knocked down, and over 240 from inception. And many were mayhem, while the perpetrators escaped,” Mr Mohammed said.
He argued that arming a select squad within the corps would help protect officers and allow for rapid response during emergencies.
Addressing concerns that arming FRSC personnel could endanger unarmed Nigerians, Mr Mohammed clarified that not all operatives would carry firearms. Instead, a specially trained detachment would be deployed to intervene when patrol teams come under threat.
“It’s only a well-trained squad that can hold an arm and be intervening in case there are issues on the road. Those on patrol can call to say, ‘Please, we are in danger, come and rescue us,’ or ‘Come and support us.’ We cannot allow everybody to hold arms,” he explained.
He revealed that the corps had in the past established an armoury in Gwagwalada and trained personnel in Jaji, Keffi, Lagos, Jos, and Enugu, though the plan was shelved under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The corps marshal further defended the proposal by citing the difficulty in enforcing road safety laws against heavily loaded trucks, tankers, and trailers without armed support.
He stressed that officials earmarked for firearms would undergo intensive training to ensure discipline and professionalism, while ongoing workshops for patrol leaders are intended to improve civility in public interactions.
Beyond the arms issue, Mr Mohammed also called for better welfare for FRSC personnel, particularly at retirement, to place them on par with other security agencies.
“Part of that welfare is that if you retire as an assistant corps marshal (ACM) or deputy corps marshal (DCM), you should be able to continue to enjoy your salary for life, like police DIGs, AIGs. Now it has been extended to civil defence and immigration. So, we shouldn’t be an exception,” he said.
The proposed legislation has been approved by the House of Representatives and will now be considered by the Senate. If passed, it would pave the way for the FRSC to establish armed squads dedicated to safeguarding its operatives during operations nationwide.
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