Reject Bill Seeking To Arm FRSC Officers, Ejiofor Tells National Assembly 

A human rights and constitutional lawyer, Sir Ifeanyi C. Ejiofor, has called on the Nigerian National Assembly to reject the proposed bill seeking to arm officers of the Federal Road Safety Commission  ( FRSC ).

He said the attempt to turn a civilian agency responsible for traffic management into an armed force poses a serious risk to public safety and threatens to escalate violence on our roads.

Ejiofor disclosed this in a statement he personally signed and made available to journalists in Abuja on Thursday. 

Ejiofor said the country cannot afford to witness another tragic consequence of armed officials misusing their power adding that the main duties commission under the law establishing it was to guide, educate, and enforce traffic regulations in a calm, orderly manner; not to incite fear or foster an environment of intimidation.

The statement read “ The proposed bill to arm the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) is deeply troubling and should be rejected. This attempt to turn a civilian agency responsible for traffic management into an armed force, poses a serious risk to public safety and threatens to escalate violence on our roads.

“ We have already witnessed the tragic consequences of armed officials misusing their power. Instances of trigger-happy law enforcement officers have marred the nation’s peace, leading to the needless loss of innocent lives. Majority of them have turned their various check points across the states into mobile ATM Machine. Oftentimes, non-compliance with their illegitimate demand to part with one’s hard-earned stipends at their  various checkpoints usually lead to untimely death of citizens. Allowing the FRSC to carry guns will only increase the likelihood of such tragic incidents.

“ We also need to think about the psychological impact of arming road safety officials. The main duties of the FRSC as clearly defined under the law establishing the Agency, are to guide, educate, and enforce traffic regulations in a calm, orderly manner; not to incite fear or foster an environment of intimidation. When we are deliberately raising the possibility of violence on our highways, how can we say that we are protecting public safety?

“ Instead of arming the FRSC, the FRSC should invest in contemporary technology, improved training, and coordination with security agencies to address the underlying causes of insecurity. Hence, I urge all well-meaning citizens to reject this bill in its entirety. The focus should be to ensure our roads remain a place of safety, not a battlefield.

“ It is imperative that lawmakers and other elected leaders focus on pressing issues bedevilling the country”