Reps Pass Bill To Allow FRSC Officials Carry Guns

• The House of Representatives passed a bill to establish a special armed squad within the FRSC, enhancing road traffic management and safety
• The bill aims to empower the FRSC with exclusive responsibilities for traffic regulation, clearing road obstructions, and educating the public on safety

The House of Representatives has passed a bill for the second reading that authorizes the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to create a special armed squad.

The bill, sponsored by Representatives Abiodun Derin Adesida and Olaide Lateef Muhammed, aims to amend the FRSC Act of 2007 to empower the corps with greater authority and operational capabilities.

Key provisions of the bill include the establishment of the FRSC Special Armed Squad and the enhancement of benefits for FRSC officers at the rank of Deputy Corp Marshal, including retirement benefits.

It also seeks to give the FRSC the exclusive responsibility for managing road traffic, reducing road crashes, supervising road users, and enforcing traffic regulations on public roads.

Additionally, the bill would empower the FRSC to clear road obstructions and educate the public about safe road usage.

The bill received unanimous support during the voice vote, allowing it to pass for second reading.

In a related development, the House adopted a motion moved by Representative Garba Ibrahim Muhammad, calling on the FRSC to increase its use of technology in road safety enforcement.

The motion urged the FRSC to adopt systems such as Automatic Vehicle Location, Automated Traffic Enforcement, advanced data analytics, and other technology-driven solutions.

The goal is to improve enforcement effectiveness, reduce traffic violations, and enhance road safety.

The motion was referred to the House Committee on FRSC for further action.