Reps urge FG to procure arms for FRSC

THE House of Representatives on Wednesday urged the Federal Government to facilitate the procurement of arms and ammunitions for officers of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC to protect themselves while performing their duties.

The House however mandated the committee on FRSC to investigate cases of attacks on personnel of the FRSC, as well ensure that arms and ammunition are procure for the commission.

The committee was given four weeks to report back to the House for further legislative action.

The House resolution followed a motion sponsored by Honourable Solomon Maren entitled, “need to curb incessant attacks on personnel of the FRSC”.

While moving the motion, the lawmaker said that, ” despite Section 19 of the FRSC (Establishment) Act, 2007 which stipulates that personnel of the commission who are exposed to high risk in the enforcement of the provisions of this Act, shall have same powers, authorities and privileges, including power to bear arms, as granted by law to members of the Nigeria Police Force, the Federal Government has not provided road safety officers with arms to enable them protect themselves in the course of performing their duties”.

The lawmaker also informed his colleagues about, “the increasing cases of violent attacks, harassment and intimidation of personnel and officers of the FRSC by highly placed individuals, motorists and hoodlums across the country particularly Zamfara, Jigawa, Abia and Lagos states”.

According to him, from 2015 to date, there have been 149 cases of attacks on personnel of FRSC and 201 cases of damage to properties and equipment of the commission.

To this end, he said that in order to avoid the attacks, road safety officers stay off the roads, particularly at Night and motorists are taking advantage of the situation to breach traffic regulations which often leads to accidents.

After arguments for and against the motion, the motion was passed through voice vote.