The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has deployed no fewer than 804 personnel to man major road corridors within Enugu State especially transit and inter-state corridors.
The Sector Commander of FRSC in Enugu State, Mr Joseph Toby, told newsmen in Enugu recently that the personnel were made of 567 regular marshals and 237 special marshals.
Toby, who noted that the deployment was part of the ongoing “Operation Zero Tolerance to Road Traffic Crashes”, noted that the corps personnel would work 24 hours on the road corridors.
According to him, a total of 17 vehicles are already deployed for the operation, which included: 13 patrol vehicles, two patrol bikes, one ambulance and one tow truck.
He noted that the ongoing operation would last for 25 days, spanning from Dec. 20 to Jan. 15, 2023; while FRSC personnel would be also on traffic built-up and gridlock flash points roads and axis of the state.
The commander said that the tow trucks of the command had started for two days now clearing all obstructions on the highways to ensure free flow of traffic this season.
“We are fully mobilised and charged for the task of ensuring smooth and hitch-free journeys for all Nigerians coming into Enugu State or using the state as a transit pathway to other states in the country.
“We are not just visible in all the major and strategic road corridors and gridlock flash points but have our medical and rescue teams to attend to any Nigerian that might need emergency health or rescue services.
“Our major target is to ensure free flow of traffic which is ongoing with the massive clearing of obstructions and broken down vehicles within road corridors in the state.
“However, we will not close our eyes to willful violation of the traffic rules or actions capable of injuring other road users or creating unnecessary hold-ups where it should never be,” he said.
Toby also urged road users to be cautious and ensure they tolerate and accommodate others as they journey to reunite with their families and kins in the state or country.
“One thing I want to appeal to our brothers and sisters in the South-East, since Enugu State is a major transit state, is for them to avoid night travel.
“The driver that holds the steering of the vehicle is also a human being and the force of nature can make him dose off at anytime while driving and the next story is accident.
“When a vehicle breaks down at night or there is health challenge among its occupants, it will be very difficult to get help in such late hours,” he warned.
The theme of this year’s Operation Zero is: “Avoid Speeding, Overloading and Unsafe Tyres to Arrive Alive”.
