Lockdown: FRSC begins arrests of violators, unauthorized vehicles

Following the Federal Government’s extension of the current lockdown in Lagos, Ogun States, and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, for another 14 days, the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, has ordered Commanding Officers across the country to step up ongoing enforcement on restrictions and social distancing amongst vehicle occupants and carry out the Presidential directives holistically by impounding at sight any vehicle found violating the orders.

According to the Corps’ Public Education Officer, Bisi Kazeem, the Corps Marshal’s directive is to reiterate the commitment of the FRSC towards sustaining existing collaborations with the Federal and State Governments in the fight against the ravaging Coronavirus, and further ensure that the order on restrictions are diligently and  effectively enforced with all sense of professionalism, civility and resilience.

He added that the alarming upsurge in deaths and spread of the virus across the globe, which the Federal Government is working round the clock to subdue in Nigeria, is not an operation the Corps is ready to treat with kids’ gloves, adding, “the Corps Marshal’s order to Commanding Officers is to ensure the full utilization of the work force through effective deployment of personnel to arrest without hesitation, any motorist who contravenes the national order on stay-at-home.”

Oyeyemi also ordered that except the vehicles and the occupants are accredited essential workers with proof of identification, Commanding Officers must ensure that the vehicles are impounded and the occupants handed over to the Police for prosecution in the Court of Law for contravening the Presidential Order on restrictions, social distance and stay at home.

While warning citizens to comply with the restriction order or face the wrath of the law, Oyeyemi also advised essential workers who might be tempted to compromise with the social distance directives in vehicles to restrain from such as the virus does not discriminate nor spare anybody irrespective of class or profession.