By Ibironke Ariyo
The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Malam Shehu Mohammed, has ordered an immediate clampdown on the transportation of inflammable substances like petroleum products across the country.
Mohammed said this in a statement issued by the Corps Public Education Officer (CPEO), Corps Commander Olusegun Ogungbemide, on Friday in Abuja.
He said that the instructions included the massive deployment of patrol vehicles on the country’s roads to search and identify vehicles with these products.
He also said that patrol officers have been instructed to ensure that motorists put fuel in their cars.
The Corps Marshal also ordered patrol officers to launch a campaign to raise awareness among drivers and passengers about the dangers of transporting petroleum products in vehicles.
Mohammed further noted that during intervention patrols, unlike traditional operations, drivers may be pursued if they put the safety of their passengers at risk.
“There is no excuse for such a despicable act.
“It is intended to be a civil commitment that aims to ensure that these products, when detected, are dumped into the fuel tanks of vehicles,” he said.
“I have also ordered a full investigation into recent fire-related traffic accidents to determine the cause of the infernos and prevent future incidents.
“The investigation report found that drivers often carry petroleum products while driving.
“That’s why when an accident occurs, the impact often sparks flames, resulting in painful deaths that could have been avoided,” he said.
The Corps Marshal also directed CPEOs across the country to complement the intervention patrol with aggressive sensitization of road users to prevent this situation.
However, Mohammed urged passengers to always ensure they control their safety.
This, he said, should be done through reports to FRSC patrol teams or through emergency numbers if they suspect that there are flammable substances in the vehicle they boarded.
“This will help curb these excesses and increase the safety of lives and property when travelers travel from one destination to another,” he said.
FRSC begins nationwide clampdown on vehicles carrying inflammable substances
