11 road crashes have so far, been recorded nationwide by the Federal Road Safety Corps during its special intervention patrol tagged " Operation Shield" while 1,125 offenders were arrested for violating 1,680 various road traffic offences as at 9th of May, 2013.
Speaking to media correspondents during a monitoring exercise at one of the corridors designated for the special patrol along Gwagwalada – Abaji road, the Deputy Corps Marshal, Operations, Boboye Oyeyemi recalled that " the Operation Shield was initiated by the FRSC in its attempt to reduce the prevalence of road crashes and related fatalities in the country".
According to him, "4 major corridors were designated for this exercise which was slated for 6th- 12th May, 2013 with the primary aim of shielding road users from the incidence of road crashes which has been witnessed recently across the country in the last one month". He added that "this exercise has witnessed massive deployment of personnel and logistics along the critical corridors with emphasis on public enlightenment, clearing of obstructions and the enforcement of road vices such the use of phone while driving, dangerous driving/overtaking, none use of passenger manifest by commercial vehicle operators and other violations".
The Deputy Corps Marshal also said that mobile courts were established along the designated corridors with about 430 traffic offenders arraigned and convicted with option of fines for various traffic-related offences while 40 others were discharged as at 10th of May, 2013.
While identifying attitude of motorists as a major causative factor for most of the road crashes, Oyeyemi urged for behavioural change among Nigerian drivers who have resorted to flagrant violation of traffic rules and regulations such as speed limit violations even in the face of improved road condition across the country. He further disclosed that the Operation Shield exercise will be sustained monthly by the FRSC especially in view of the dividends from this initiative during the week.
Via: Federal Road Safety Commission [FRSC] - Official Press Release