FRSC to Clamp Down on Trucks Conveying Goods, Passengers

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin-city

The Edo State Command of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has warned truck drivers to desist from carrying goods and passengers together, saying it would soon commence clapping down on erring drivers.

The Edo State FRSC Sector Commander, Paul Okpe, gave the warning yesterday during a sensitisation programme for truck drivers at the Aduwawa axis of Benin-city.

Okpe said the sensitisation was to engage the leadership of the truck drivers’ union on how to drive on the highway, imbibe safety culture, and stop using truck to carrying goods and passengers.

He said: “We going to go round other locations of the  union in the state to also sensitise them. It is not a good practice and when accident happened, most of the passengers always died and we want to reduce accident on the road.

“We are happy that the drivers are keying into the exercise and assured us of their support. They have also given us good advice, especially stopping the loading of passengers and good from the North.”

He stated that the corps would commence the prosecution of erring drivers, noting that: “With the assurance they gave us, we are sure that the menace would be eradicated.

“We are using public enlightenment and enforcement to curb this menace. This campaign launched by the Corp Marshal, Alhaji Dauda Biu is, ongoing across the country.”

On his part, the Chairman, NURTW Heavy Truck, Aduwawa branch, Alhaji Badamasi Muhammed, commended the FRSC for the sensitisation and assured them of their total support.

He added: “This issue has been bothering us but we are not government that can stop it, but now that the government is interested, it is going to stop. And they should stop it from the north where they are loading good and passengers.

“So we will join the FRSC and talk to our driver to ensure that loading goods and humans together is not good and should be stopped. Last time about 50 people died when a truck conveying cow and human beings had an accident.”