Criticism trails reps move to arm FRSC

Criticism trails reps move to arm FRSC

By John Eche

Criticism is trailing reported moves by the House of Representatives to arm personnel of the Federal Road Safety Corp, FRSC, The Difference can report.

This is coming on the heels of reports in the media to the effect that the representatives are working on plans to enable patrolling personal of the traffic management agency to carry guns.

The move for the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) operatives to bear firearms is said to be a measure that would help them to better curtail what is being described as the excesses of road users in Nigeria.

A scheme of the House of Representatives Committee on FRSC, the disclosure of the plan was made during the corps’ 2020 budget performance and 2021 budget defence that took place on Thursday in Abuja.

According to the Chairman of the Committee, Representative Akinfolarin Mayowa, it is however not a new law as the 1992 Act of FRSC conceptually allows personnel of the corps to carry guns as things stand today.

He noted that what is being done now ids to finetune the implementation modalities, averring that the implementation has now become necessary to ensure that laws were obeyed and to bring into being an improved situation where the FRSC is primed to function more effectively.

He explained that the committee would also be meeting with Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha on the issue, while it would also formally write to President Muhammadu Buhari on the need to now implement the Act.

Another top government official that the committee is disposed to discussing the matter with is the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu.

But Nigerians have been expressing their views on the subject, complaining that it is another unwanted instance of excessive militarisation of the public space.

‘new g꧞dꦁꦁꦁꦁꦿ
@Aminu_T_KB
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49m
Replying to
@ameengoni
I give up on this country.. let’s also give mall cops guns, give club bouncers guns.. oh.. don’t forget NURTW officers in bus parks.’

‘Seun Afuwape
@SeunAfuwape
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1h
Guns for FRSC, LASTMA, VIO. I hope you will be ready to give neighbourhood Watch, FIRS, LIRS, Health Inspection Officers, DISCOs, NURTW, Corporate Security Guards etc?
@HouseNGR @NGRSenate, please discard these requests. We don’t need more guns.’

Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi, FRSC Corps Marshall