According to the Federal Road Safety Corps, fleet operators that violate safety regulations across the nation will face consequences and legal action without hesitation.
FRSC Corps Marshal Dauda Biu made this statement on Thursday in Abuja at the annual safety management retreat for 2023.
Biu stated that the Corps would no longer stand for fleet operators’ loose adherence to the requirements of the Road Transport Safety Standardization Scheme. Biu was represented by Assistant Corps Marshal Ms. Amuche Nwaka.
The retreat, according to the head of the FRSC, was designed to evaluate and address significant observations made by the Corps about the administration of fleet operations in the nation during the last year and the repercussions that followed.
According to him, inquiries showed that if the concerned safety managers had been dedicated to their jobs, the majority of the nation’s documented fleet operations-related crashes might have been prevented.
He declared, “Therefore, this retreat is a wake-up call to all of us to further justify our roles as safety managers.”
Biu added that the Corps had continuously focused on areas of observable decrease in the previous few iterations of the yearly retreat.
He clarified that this has to do with the RTSSS’s overall implementation, specifically with reference to the topic of speed limiters.
According to Biu, the nation’s public transportation system’s level of compliance was still unacceptable at the time of the most recent evaluation.
“Participation in the issuing of compliance certifications without real installation, tampering with the device that has already been installed, calibration over the permitted speed limits, and other specific infractions were noted.
The Corps will not hesitate to discipline non-compliant operators going forward, he declared, thus they will no longer be allowed.
Law-backed actions would be implemented, according to Biu, who also considered the results of the fleet operator certification exercise in 2022 and the previously noted shortcomings.
“There is no turning back on this,” he declared. “Pre-action notices for prosecution will be served to all observed non-compliant fleet operators in any of the identified areas.”
Fleet managers who obstructed certification teams’ access to their properties will face legal repercussions.
Fleet operators will have their activities suspended if they don’t achieve certification standards two times.
“Only vehicles equipped with operational speed limiters shall be granted certified vehicle stickers.”
Prior to this, Mr. Babatunde Irukera, Executive Vice Chairman of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protective Commission, stated that it was critical to acknowledge the seriousness of RTCs in Nigeria and their significant influence on customers’ lives.
Speaking through Mrs. Olubunmi Oti, a Director of the FCCPC, Irukera stated that RTCs not only caused fatalities and serious injuries but also placed a heavy financial strain on society.
By working together, we can create an atmosphere where fleet operators prioritize enforcing strict safety regulations, which will help lower the number of RTCs in Nigeria.
“The FRSC’s dedication to harmonizing with international best practices is commendable, and the introduction of the Road Traffic Safety Standardization Scheme (RTSSS) is a positive step in the right direction.
Therefore, it is our responsibility as regulatory authorities and industry stakeholders to refresh our knowledge and approaches to handle this crucial issue on a regular basis.
“The overall objective of guaranteeing the safety, protection, and well-being of customers in all areas of our economy smoothly connects with the FRSC’s strategic goal of reaching a five percent decrease in RTCs and injuries,” he stated.
Among the highlights of the occasion were the well-wishes expressed by the Public Transport Owners of Nigeria Association, Dangote Cement Transport, the National Director of Logistics, BUA Cement Transport, and the President.
(NAN)
