BY SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says that it has succeeded in recording no deaths and drastically reduced crashes within nine-months in the Ugwu-Onyema axis of Enugu-Onitsha Road.
The Sector Commander of FRSC Enugu State Command, Mr Franklin Agbakoba, disclosed this during 2025 Ember Months Public Enlightenment and Sensitisation Campaigns held on Tuesday in Enugu.
The theme of the Ember Months campaign is: “Take Responsibility For Your Safety, Stop Distracted Driving”.
Agbakoba said that the feats of no death and reduced crashes were achieved through robust operational activities such as ensuring lane discipline, stopping driving against traffic and sanctioning route violations.
He said, “Apart from Jan. 25, 2025 incident, where 23 people lost their lives during fuel-laden tanker rollover at Ugwu-Onyema axis of Enugu-Onitsha Expressway; since then, we have not recorded any crash leading to death on that axis.
“The diesel-laden-tanker fell on Sept. 25, 2025 night; which was immediately contained and attended by FRSC officers and men and the fire service , we did not record a single death.
“The FRSC was able to safe-guard lives and property in that recent incident by quick traffic diversion to the Ngwo community road, popularly known as Snake Road Ngwo, and alerting the people in real-time through the media.
“We are collaborating with the Enugu State Government and sister security agencies to have a task-force with a Forward Operating Base (FOB) at that axis to work 24-hour to further ensure safety on the Ugwu-Onyema axis.”
The commander also revealed that the back-long of driver’s licenses had all been produced as the Corps had upgraded its equipment on drivers’ license production nationwide.
“I will encourage our people to come and collect their driver’s licenses as all have been produced and we are ready to issue them, if any applicant approaches our office anytime,” he said.
The sector commander also appreciated the FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, for his support to the command and provision made to enhance the command’s operations and services to Nigerians especially those in distress.
He lauded Gov. Peter Mbah for his personal commitment to the safety of lives on roads in Enugu State, while calling for closer collaboration and assistance on provision of patrol vehicles and ambulances for the Corp.
On the Ember Months campaign, Agbakoba said that it remained a period of increased vehicular and human traffic on roads as well as some level of rush by some drivers to meet-up some expectations.
“For the Ember Months, the FRSC would be watching out for the following violations: failure to adhere to road traffic rules and regulations; speed limit violations; and driving under influence of alcohol and drugs.
“Seat belt violations, road rage, use of cell-phones while driving among other bad and dangerous road habits,” he said.
According to him, in this Ember Months, we are deploying more FRSC personnel and Special Marshals on major highways and crash-prone road corridors.
“Free-vehicle check exercise to improve vehicle road worthiness; conduct motor park rallies and motorcade carnivals to raise awareness on safety; and we organise town-hall meetings to strengthen collaborations with stakeholders,” he said.
Speaking, the State Coordinator of FRSC Special Marshals, Mr Anthony Orji, pledged that the special marshals would be more dedicated to their duties and ready to be deployed to traffic built-up and crash-prone roads.
“Apart from working on crash-prone roads between 9th Mile and Ugwu-Onyema axis; we will also help in spreading the gospel of safety and ensure we work to achieve reduction in road crashes and bad road habits,” Orji assured.
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