The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Delta State Command, has been urged to remove all obstructions posing threat to lives and property on the highways.
Delta State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) , Comrade Churchill Oyowe, made the call when he led members of his team to pay a courtesy visit on the State Sector Commandant, Corps Commandant Udueme Eshiet, at Asaba.
Comrade Oyowe said that the visit was aimed at fostering synergy between the union and FRSC , while bringing the concerns of the motoring public to the commandant’s notice.
Stating the need for highways to be free from encumbrances, he said that there were lots of damaged vehicles, as well as trucks parked along the road that had caused accidents.
Oyowe suggested that the corps should liaise with the state Ministry of Transport to get a heavy duty toll truck to help facilitate the clearance of obstacles from the highways.
Imploring FRSC in the state to team up with the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to put bad portions of the roads in order, he noted that good roads would reduce accidents.
The NUJ chairman frowned at the activities of some officers whom he noted lacked good relationship with the public, calling on Corps Commandant Eshiet to help control their excesses.
Oyowe also harped on the need for the sector command to have regular interactions with journalists so as to help disseminate proper information to the public.
The chairman, however, commended the sector commandants and his officers on their efforts in ensuring the safety of lives and property on highway as well as their operations in reducing gridlock on the Benin-Warri Road, Benin-Asaba-Onitsha Road and Ughelli-Asaba Road.
Responding, the state Sector Commandant, Corps Commandant Udueme Eshiet appreciated members of the NUJ for visiting the command, observing that journalists were major stakeholders in ensuring the safety of road users.
Corps Commandant Eshiet affirmed that the removal of obstructions from highways was one of the mandate of the corps, adding that issues mentioned were being addressed on daily basis.
He disclosed that the command’s old heavy toll truck lacked the capacity to perform many tolling tasks, saying that they sometimes rely on Anambra State Command’s toll truck to clear the roads of all obstructions that would have caused traffic jams.
Stating that FRSC was not into road construction, he said that the corps only report to authorities in charge of road repairs.
He appreciated Governor Sherrif Oborevwori of Delta State for his palliative measures on some bad portions of federal roads in the state, saying that the ongoing flyover construction project awarded to Julius Berger Nig. Ltd would reduce the traffic jam in the Warri axis of the state.
On erring staff, he said that the corps does not tolerate misconduct.
The corps commandant declared that the intelligence department of FRSC, charged with the responsibility of monitoring the activities of corps members ensured that culpable officers were disciplined.
Also to inform staff on the implications of their actions, the Delta Sector Commandant said that he organized regular talks for the officers.
Expressing his dedication to do more in changing the face of FRSC, Eshiet said that he was poised to stop all forms of extortion so that the public could be endeared to them.
He noted that two road audit had been done between December 2023 and January 2024, assuring that repairs would soon begin on the roads.
He emphasized the need for partnership with NUJ while stressing his devotedness to deliver on the mandate of the FRSC.
