FRSC And Its Primary Task By Charles Ofoji

If you juxtapose the hazards
that still exist on Nigerian
roads with the billions of
Naira already spent on the
Federal Road Safety
Commission (FRSC) since its
inception, then you begin to
realize that the well intended
venture has failed to achieve
its primary objective – to
keep Nigeria roads safe for
drivers, passengers and
pedestrians.
It would be a denial to say
that over the years the
commission has not made
noteworthy attempts at
combating the perils
common to Nigeria highways.
Nevertheless, as archetypal of
Nigeria, the commission,
under various Chairmen,
instead of vigorously
pursuing its primary task and
tackling the root of the
problem of lack of safety on
our roads, has continued to
chase shadows. The primary
task for which the
commission was set up is to
keep our roads safe. And so
many years after, has it
succeeded in achieving this?
The answer is no.
The lack of safety on Nigerian
roads is mainly due to bad
driving. There is a
preponderance of dangerous
driving largely because
people who should have no
business on wheels drive.
Nigeria is a country where
someone would buy a car
even before he learns how to
drive. Thereafter, he would
beg one of his friends or
relations to show him how to
drive on a Sunday morning at
a backyard primary school
field. After two or three
exercises, he jumps into the
road as a driver so long as he
could cough out about N10,
000 for a driver’s licence. The
issuing office is only
interested in the money.
Once this money is paid, the
issuing authority is ready to
issue a blind person, even
someone who is mentally
deranged, a go ahead to
drive on Nigerian roads.
90% of the drivers never
went through an approved
driving school, where, apart
from turning the steering and
gearing, driving rules and
signs are taught. While
another sizeable percentage
possesses a driver’s licence,
but can’t even drive. They
are those who use it only for
identification purposes at
banks etc.
The FRSC under Osita
Chiduka is like the proverbial
man that is chasing rat while
his house is on fire. The
changing of plate numbers
recently undertaken is an
unnecessary cosmetic which
will not impact its major
chore. What I have expected
the commission to do since
its inauguration is to review
every driver’s licence. I can
authoritatively say that 80%
of people driving in Nigeria
ought to have no business
driving. The truth remains
that there are a lot of mad
men on wheels. They disobey
all accepted traffic norms
and signs and pedestrians are
mostly endangered. The first
rule about driving in civilized
climes is that the pedestrian
is king. But unfortunately in
Nigeria, it is as if they are
disturbing traffic. Vehicle
users will not even let them
cross at zebra crossings or
when there is a green light
for them to traverse.
Dangerous driving poses
amplified menace for
newcomers to Nigeria, who
come from climes where
driving is done only by the
rules.
I also expect the FRSC to
evolve a mechanism by which
it controls every holder of a
driver’s licence. It can
introduce the Point-System,
whereby, by each traffic
offence a driver loses some
points and when one loses
over ten points, he forfeits
his licence for a specified
number of period or ad
infinitum, depending on the
gravity of the offence(s). It is
balderdash that driver’s
licence expires. How can a
driver’s licence expire? The
knowledge of driving is a
lifelong ability. It is not
temporary. Even when
people go to renew their so-
called expired licences no
new tests are conducted. So
where is the aim? Instead of
putting driving licence owners
through such unnecessary,
stressing and aimless renewal
procedure, the Road Safety
Commission can better check
abuses more effectively with
the Point-System thing.
I have also long expected
Chiduka and his men to
introduce breath screeners in
their management of road
safety. This writer has often
gone out with friends at
night and after a drinking
spree, they will jump into
their cars and drive home.
Yours sincerely has always
been consternated. This can
only happen in Nigeria. In
fact, most of the times, you
hear drivers saying that they
need to “booze” first in order
to “clear” their eyes. Then
you can only laugh in your
stomach. Such is only
possible because the Road
Safety Commission is not
awake to its primary
responsibility. The road
Marshals have to be extra
active at night when more
alcohol is consumed by the
populace in order to
eradicate drink-driving, which
is a major cause of roads
mishaps.
Chiduka is a brilliant Corps
Marshall. There is no doubt
about this. Nevertheless,
what I put to question is his
ability to bring genuine
reforms, which would help
the commission realize the
primary goal for which it was
set up. The FRSC was not
established to beautify plate
numbers etc or do a monthly
show-off jogging exercise. It
was established to keep our
roads safe. Therefore, I
expect him to introduce
fundamental reforms which
will enhance safety on our
roads and he should refrain
from superfluous aesthetics.
Checkpointcharley@yahoo.de

#CONSENSUS 2015