The Commander of the
Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in Abia State, Mr Anthony Oko, has called for collaboration between the commission and the state’s vigilante groups, for effective road traffic control.
Oko made the call when members of the Advisory Committee of Abia State Vigilante Groups paid him a courtesy visit in Umuahia, recently.
He said that controlling road traffic in the state was a difficult challenge, noting that some motorists and tricycle operators used the roads “in a manner that suggests that they are not normal human beings’’.
He said that some of the road users often threatened FRSC officials with dangerous weapons whenever they were being cautioned, adding that such situation posed great danger to road traffic control.
Oko therefore solicited the cooperation of the vigilance group, saying “since the law does not permit FRSC to carry arms, it will be nice for you to partner with us to check these criminal elements’’.
He said it was particularly difficult to control traffic in Aba, the commercial hub of the state and Umuahia, stressing that the responsibility should not be that of the FRSC alone.
“Before turning to specifics, the general role of all uniform men is to maintain peace, protect lives and property of the citizens.
“As FRSC personnel, our main mandate is to ensure that all road users are adequately protected and we expect that other uniform officials should also be apostles of road safety,’’ he said.
Earlier, the chairman of the advisory committee, Chief Udeka Onuoha, had earlier said that the committee’s visit was to solicit good working relationship with the commission.
Onuoha, who is a retired Commissioner of Police, said although members of the vigilance group were not competing with the FRSC, they were willing to support the agency in its operations, if requested.
“The law that established Abia State Vigilance Group made it explicit that members are to play complementary roles to other federal security bodies. If you need us, we are willing to assist.”