Nation
FRSC Canvasses More Dedicated Courts To Prosecute Traffic Offenders
The Zonal Commanding Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps,(FRSC) Zone 8, ACM Hyginus Omeje, yesterday called for more dedicated magistrates courts for prosecution of traffic offenders.
Omeje, who is the zonal commanding officer of FRSC, zone 8, comprising Kwara State, Ekiti and Kogi States, made the call at the First Quarter Zonal Retreat for officers and special Marshals held in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti capital.
He said the call became necessary as one of the proactive measures to ensure attitudinal change in motorists using the nation’s Highways.
He decried the high rate of fatalities recorded in the zone during the period in review, saying the corps would adopt more proactive measures to curtail the recurrence of the incidence.
Omeje said that the figure of crashes resulting fatality became increased due to the considerable increase of good condition of the Federal Highways.
He said, the retreat was meant to strategise toward achieving the corps 2022 Strategic Goals of 15 per cent reduction in fatalities, enhancing FRSC partnership for innovative actions and consolidation on our data management.
“I must tell you that our fatality figures in the zone for this first quarter, we are not comfortable with it.
“We have discovered that what is responsible for these figures is that the federal highways are improving in terms of road conditions and what this implies is that drivers are now speeding excessively on those highways.
“For instance the Ogbomoso-Ilorin- Jebba road axis, even the old Oyo-Ogbomoso road that was rehabilitated, we now noticed that we have more fatalities on this axis.
“We will stop at nothing, including prosecution to ensure desired reduction in crashes on the nation’s roads, particularly the roads in the zone.
“I have discovered that motorists will be ready to pay fines than going to the courts. We are going to start using what they dreaded most to curb road crashes menace,” Omeje said.
The zonal commanding officer said that the corps had directed commanding officers in the zone to synergise with their Ministry of Justice to ensure dedicated magistrate courts were set aside for hearing of FRSC cases.
“The zone 8 directives are that after seven days a ticket or citation is issued and the motorists have not reported, they should track such traffic violator.
“They should approach the dedicated Magistrate Courts get a ‘Writ of Summon’ in order to prosecute him or her,” Omeje added.
He, however, reiterated the commitment of FRSC to ensure safety of the country’s highways through intensive awareness in religious centres and public places.
In his own comment, the Ekiti FRSC Sector Commander, CC, Ocheja Ameh, thanked the corps for choosing Ekiti command.
Ameh said he was optimistic that the retreat would improve on their service delivery in Ekiti in particular and the zone in general.
Present at the event include, the Kogi State FRSC Sector Comander, CC Solomon Agure, his counterpart in Kwara State, CC, Jonathan Owoade, Dr Adetayo Adedayo, the Zonal Coordinator of Special Marshals among others
The Lagos State Government has disclosed that 26,592 public school students failed the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination, raising alarm across the state’s education sector.
The state Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Jamiu Alli-Balogun, during a ministerial press briefing yesterday in Alausa, Ikeja, said that “45.7 per cent of the 58,188 students from public schools who sat for the exams did not pass.”.
This failure rate comes despite the state government’s significant financial backing N1.577 billion was paid on behalf of the students to cover WAEC fees.
“Suffice to say that the sum of N1,577,794,000 only was paid by the state government as examination fees for 58,188 students who were captured for the year 2024 WASSCE,” Alli-Balogun announced.
In a bid to tighten accountability and avoid wastage, the Commissioner disclosed that biometric and image registration was carried out to accurately determine eligible students for government sponsorship for the 2025 WASSCE.
“The exercise successfully captured and registered 56,134 students as bona fide beneficiaries of the Lagos state government’s sponsorship for the examination,” he added.
However, the Lagos State Government rolled out a bold educational intervention – the Eko Learners’ Support Programme for WASSCE and NECO candidates – aimed at reversing the tide of academic failure in the state’s public schools.
Launched on January 14, 2025, the initiative is part of a broader commitment by the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education to equip Lagos students with tools for success.
“This forward-thinking initiative was designed to support and empower young scholars in attestation of the ministry’s commitment to advancing interest and management of the educational system in Lagos State,” Alli-Balogun stated.
Ekiti State Government says it has vaccinated 226,429 eligible girls in the State against the Human Papilloma Virus, an infection believed to be a leading cause of cervical cancer.
The wife of the Ekiti State Governor, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji, said the HPV immunization exercise, which she flagged off in the State in May 2025 was a great success, noting that it reached targeted communities and protected children against cervical cancer.
The governor’s wife made the disclosure in Ado Ekiti yesterday during a one-day stakeholders’ sensitisation meeting on the introduction of Measles Rubella vaccines in Ekiti State.
She said, “The introduction of Measles Rubella Vaccines is a very crucial step towards protecting Ekiti children particularly the target age group of nine to 14 years from diseases.
“I urge all women in the State to regularly scan their breasts. This can be done with the aid of the Mammography machine which is available at Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti”.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Oyebanji Filani, noted that the Measles Rubella vaccines would be rolled out nationally in October, 2025.
Filani said that the State was taking proactive steps to sensitise residents of the State before the date to ensure adequate awareness on the vaccines by citizens.
The Acting Ochimba of Ogida in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, Eze Ndudiri Azuatalam, says peace remains paramount in the socio-economic development of Etche land.
Eze Azuatalam, however, called on his people to embrace and eschew violence at all times.
The Onwa Nagbara Oha made the call during the official commissioning of his palace at Ogida recently.
The epoch-making ceremony held at his palace saw the attendance of members of the Etche Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs; the academia; the political class; the clergy ; women as well relevant stakeholders within and outside Etche land.
The Ngbaragida of Azuafor re-emphasised the essence of peace and social harmony which he said open the window for meaningful development to take place.
He also sought the support and collaboration of his people to achieve the desired goals of development, progress and prosperity.
He noted that the peace being witnessed in the area must be sustained through collective effort, saying, contributions and sacrifices need to be made by all concerned to live in peace.
Eze Azuatalam said his aim towards building a better Ogida cannot be compromised as he and his people have no other place called home.
The Acting Ochimba said as part of efforts to build a better Ogida, he has instituted a number of development projects, adding that some of his kinsmen have been empowered through his hard-earned money and resources, saying, he will continue to assist the less- privileged around him.
He reaffirmed his desire to impact positively on the lives of his people as the engagement of the youths will help to reduce social vices in the area.
He thanked members of the Etche Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs for honouring his invitation.
He specifically thanked the Onyi Ishi Etche and Ochie of Etcheland, His Eminence E mmanuel Opurum for leading Etche on the path of prosperity, and described the revered King as a role model to the younger generation.
He said his fatherly role has been a source of hope and inspiration to his subjects.
The palace was unveiled by His Eminence with the assistance of Ochimba of Abara, Eze Jonah Nwala and other prominent Etche traditional rulers and chiefs while the Onyi Ishi Etche was represented by Eze Ken Nwala, Onyi Ishi Agwuru, Ulakwo/ Umuselem Clan.
The Onyi Ishi Etche urged other prominent sons of Etche to emulate the kind gesture of Eze Ndudiri Azuatalam as his magnanimity is being seen and appreciated by his people.
Eze Azuatalam also applauded the efforts of Prof Mekuri Ndimele, former Vice Chancellor of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education in the growth of Etche land.
According to him, during Ndimele’ s tenure, a lot of development projects were sited at the institution, including the development of Etcheland and empowerment of Etche people.