Abuja: The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has instructed its commanding officers to enhance nationwide enforcement against vehicle overloading to ensure public safety. The Corps Public Education Officer (CPEO), Olusegun Ogungbemide, revealed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Ogungbemide dismissed claims that the FRSC was not active in enforcing measures against overloading, stating that such accusations are unfounded. He emphasized that overloaded vehicles are regularly impounded for various infractions across the country, with evidence of ongoing enforcement being shared on FRSC’s social media channels.
In 2024, the FRSC impounded a total of 5,217 overloaded vehicles and arrested offenders across all 12 zones of the Corps. Specific zones such as Kaduna, Sokoto, Oshogbo, Bauchi, Lagos, and Yola saw significant numbers of impoundments, with Kaduna leading at 777 vehicles. Other zones including Jos, Benin, Port Harcourt, Abuja, Ilorin, and Enugu also reported substantial impoundments, underscoring the widespread nature of the enforcement efforts.
Ogungbemide acknowledged challenges in dealing with persistent offenders who continue overloading vehicles despite repeated arrests. He highlighted that the Corps conducts daily enforcement operations and continues advocacy efforts aimed at commercial drivers and commuters to discourage the practice of entering overloaded vehicles.
The CPEO pointed out that enforcement is the primary tool being employed, supported by ongoing public enlightenment campaigns. He urged commuters to play a role in supporting the Corps’ efforts by refusing to use overloaded vehicles, noting that a lack of demand would discourage drivers from overloading.
Ogungbemide also mentioned special directives issued to command units, especially in northern regions, to tackle the issue of “mixed loading,” which involves transporting passengers alongside goods and animals in the same vehicle, posing serious safety risks.
As Nigeria enters a busy travel season, the FRSC has ramped up its surveillance and engagement activities to ensure the safety of all road users, assuring the public of their commitment to reducing road traffic crashes.
