The Federal Road Safety Corps has prohibited its personnel from providing escorts for politicians during campaigns ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
The Punch reported that the directive was issued by the Zonal Commanding Officer of RS6, ACM Abimbola Owolabi, during her maiden visit to the Cross River State Command in Calabar on Wednesday.
Owolabi warned that FRSC patrol vehicles and sirens must not be deployed for political activities or private events, including weddings and funeral processions.
She instructed officers assigned to campaign venues to concentrate solely on managing traffic to prevent congestion and road accidents.
The zonal commander also cautioned personnel against leading political convoys or escorting politicians, emphasising that official vehicles must only be used for authorised duties.
She called on officers to strengthen public awareness campaigns on road safety, noting that sustained sensitisation efforts could help reduce road crashes and achieve zero fatalities.
Owolabi further warned against extortion, corruption and other forms of unprofessional conduct, urging personnel to uphold the corps’ reputation through transparency and accountability.
“Misconduct by patrol operators and other personnel undermines public confidence in the corps. Officers must be extremely accountable across operational units,” she said.
She also advised officers to take precautions during enforcement operations and avoid unnecessary confrontations that could result in assaults, injuries or damage to their uniforms.
The commander urged personnel to exercise professionalism and sound judgement when dealing with motorists, particularly in tense situations that could escalate into violence.
To address traffic obstructions, she called for improved collaboration with private operators to ensure that broken-down vehicles were removed from highways promptly.
She also emphasised the importance of timely emergency response, efficient rescue operations and more intensive patrols to reduce road crashes and fatalities.
“I urge FRSC personnel to maintain high standards of service delivery, process official correspondence carefully and ensure requests for operational support are properly documented,” she said.
Owolabi encouraged personnel to prioritise their health and take advantage of the National Health Insurance Scheme, stressing that good health was essential for effective service delivery.
She also appealed to the wives of FRSC personnel under the Road Safety Officers’ Wives Association to support their husbands in carrying out their responsibilities and protecting lives.
(NAN)
