IBIRONKE ARIYO, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
To state that the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has witnessed impressive strides under the leadership of its Corps Marshal, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, would be stating the obvious.
His legacies, achieved through dint of hard work and ingenuity in management, would always remain a part of the soul of the FRSC.
His attitude has always echoed the spirit and ethos of the Corps in road safety management and this is exemplified in the laudable footprints he has made in the agency.
About 34 years ago, the founding fathers of the FRSC sat down and conceived the idea of a road safety lead agency for the country; an Organisation characterised with modernity to address road safety issues.
A situation where its personnel would be willing and ready to render selfless service that bring sanity on the road, reduce road traffic crash with its attendant fatalities and injuries as well as bring succour to all road users.
These are the ideals that the FRSC represents and to which the successive leaderships of the Corps have been committed in order to ensure its attainment and sustenance.
Today, though it might not yet be Uhuru, in terms of having a completely crash-free nation or fully realised the vision of creating a safe motoring environment, but every discerning Nigerian is convinced that FRSC has done a lot.
This is so, considering its modest achievements and Boboye’s giant stride in the agency has contributed in bringing it to where it is today.
Amazingly, the Corps has been able to significantly scale down the number of road traffic crashes from 28, 215 in 1987 to 13, 027 as of 2021, representing a 54 per cent reduction.
Taking over the daunting task of steering the agency towards greater heights seven and a half years ago, Oyeyemi had brought a lot of innovations to bear.
From the deployment of body and vehicle cameras for officers, to the establishment of a control room for operations and the efforts toward the introduction of digital driver’s license to curb theft and other related crimes, among others, the Corps Marshal has continued to strive to ensure a transformation of the agency for better.
Speaking at the unveiling of body cameras, operation monitoring and control platform, to improve the Corps’ field operations across the country late last year, Oyeyemi had said that the platform would improve transparency and accountability in the activities of the Corps nationwide.
He added that it was designed with the needs for the public uppermost in mind, as the Corps goes about the task of making the operation of FRSC more responsive.
Oyeyemi also said that it was evidence of a fostered innovation to tackle challenges in patrol operations and its strong commitment to surmount all obstacles in delivering on its mandate.
According to him, the platform is significant, due to its multiplier values to the corps and by extension, national security.
Also during a recent dinner to mark the 34th Anniversary of the Corps, he had assured that the Corps would remain focused to the attainment of its mandate of creating a safe motoring environment and achieve a country where road traffic crashes results in no death.
The Corps Marshal has never been about just talking as anyone who has ever worked with him can tell that he is more about action.
He had said as one of the pioneer staff who witnessed the emergence of the FRSC from scratch, “I have worked with others as a team since I came on board in not only keeping it on course but have taken it to greater heights as is evident from the successful completion of all projects.
“This feat remains the most credible affirmation that FRSC has come to stay and a testimonial that the Corps will justify the confidence reposed on it by Nigerians, ” he said.
Oyeyemi used the opportunity to pay tribute to the founding fathers of the FRSC and all relevant stakeholders for toiling day and night to give Nigeria an Organisation that has today not only transformed, but become the reference point in quality service delivery to the people.
This he said has made the Corps the best example of a Lead Agency in Africa as declared by the World Bank.
“We must acknowledge their foresight for setting a goal that has showcased Nigeria with a world class organisation from which other nations takes a cue in matters of road safety management and traffic administration.
“I must equally appreciate all successive leadership of the Corps for working hard to sustain the ideals upon which the Corps is anchored,” he said,
The Corps became one of the few public service organisations in Nigeria to attain ISO 9001:2008 certification in 2013 and upgraded to ISO 9001:2015 in 2019.
In line with its commitment to continually improving its mode of operation, the Corps has just been re-certified on ISO 9001:2015 in January 2022.
The re-certification, back to back, among other strides, Oyeyemi said was a testament of a highly motivated workforce.
“In its contribution to road safety management in Africa, the Corps championed the establishment of the West African Road Safety Organisation (WARSO). The Corps will continue to support other African countries to achieve their set objectives,” he said.
Highlighting other developmental strides of which he played a major part, he said, “The Corps also activated volunteerism in road safety administration through its arm of volunteers.
This he said today, has about 15,000 volunteer Special Marshals, excluding other variants such as Celebrity and Honorary Special Marshals.
Oyeyemi said that the Corps successfully sought for the infusion of Road Safety studies in the curricula of primary and post-primary schools in Nigeria.
He added that the Corps also introduced the concept of Road Safety Clubs in Primary and Secondary schools, as well as among members of the National Youth Service Corps.
“The Corps has over 160,000 members of the Road Safety Club nationwide.
“Also with the support of the Federal and some State Governments, Nigerian Road Safety Partnership (NRSP), International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP), local and international donor agencies and individuals, the Corps has improved on its critical infrastructure and operational equipment.
“From a modest five bedroom storey building at Bodija, Ibadan at the inception of the Corps in 1988 and few staff, the Corps has rapidly grown with its Headquarters in Wuse, Abuja, “he said.
The FRSC boss said that the Corps had expanded its operation with 12 Zonal Commands nationwide, 37 Sector Commands in the 36 States of the Federation and FCT for operational and administrative presence.
He said “the Corps similarly has 7 Corridor Commands, 245 Unit Commands, additional 54 Outposts and 764 Station Offices (LGA offices) across the country to widen its operational, rescue and data coverage to enhance its service delivery.
“The Corps has established four training institutions: FRSC Academy, Udi in Enugu State for the training of Officers, FRSC Marshal Inspectorate School, Owa-Alero in Delta State for the training of middle cadre manpower.
“FRSC Training School Jos in Plateau State for the training of the Road Marshal Assistant Cadre and FRSC Command and Staff College (FCSC), temporarily located in Enugu State.
“Some of the training institutions were built through a partnership with some State Governments, while others were fully delivered by individual State Governments.
“The institutions are designed to cater for the training needs of staff, State Traffic Agencies and other clients, ” he said.
Oyeyemi said that it was worthy of mention that FRSC Academy had received approval of the National Universities Commission to commence post-graduate degree programmes in affiliation with the Federal University of Technology (FUTO), Owerri, in Imo State.
He said that the Corp was also partnering with African Development Bank (AfDB) to establish a Center of Excellence in Road Safety studies in Africa at the Academy.
“In pursuit and sustenance of a world-class status, permit me to mention that the Corps has established a functional 24hour ultra-modern FRSC Call Center.
“This is to receive and route emergency calls through 122 Toll-free numbers for easy communication to the Call Center, especially by first responders.
“In addition, the Corps has established Field Operations Monitoring and Control Center (FOMCC) for real-time monitoring of activities of our field operatives via body-worn cameras deployed with field operatives.
In the same vein, Oyeyemi said that the Emergency Ambulance Service Scheme was established with 51 life-support ambulances for prompt emergency rescue services, reducing response time to 15 minutes.
He said that the Corps also had three (3) Main Number Plate Production Centers and six (6) Mini Number Plate Plants; one (1) Print Farm for printing of Drivers’ License and 225 Drivers’ License Center nationwide for capturing of Drivers’ license applicants.
“Other installations of the Corps are: One (1) Signage Plant for production of road signs; 21 Staff Clinic, 28 Road Side Clinics and Medical Centers to service staff, road traffic crash victims and general public, Officers Mess; National Traffic Radio (NTR) on 107.1 FM for promoting better driving culture, “he said.
The FRSC boss also expressed appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari for his support to the Corps, saying that the President in 2016 approved an intervention fund that led to the procurement of about 343 vehicles.
Oyeyemi added that there was yet another approval in 2020 to inject more vehicles to support the operations of the Corps which was currently being worked on.
He added that within the past seven and half years of his administration, the Corps had constructed, inaugurated and equipped 16 State Sector Commands and fully completed all uncompleted projects through the support of the Federal Government.
Oyeyemi had also shown good working relationships with sister agencies comprising the Military and Paramilitary organisations, which was part of efforts that had put the FRSC in good standing today.
According to him, for the 34 years of the Corps’ existence, they have extended good hands of fellowship in varied forms and stood by the Corps in molding and shaping an agency that today is the best example of the Lead Agency in Africa.
Oyeyemi had a fulfilling working career that has seen him operating in various capacities for the Corps.
They include O/C Comm. Corps Marshal’s Office, FRSC National Headquarters; Zonal Commanding Officer, RS2HQ Lagos; Area Commander (Plant & Production) NULS Lagos Plant; Principal Commander (Plant & Production) NULS Lagos Plant; Zonal Commanding Officer, RS10HQ Sokoto .
Deputy Director, RSHQ Operations; Ag. Director Operations, RSHQ; Deputy Director Operations, RSHQ; Director MVA, RSHQ; Zonal Commanding Officer, RS3HQ Yola; Head/Director of Operations, RSHQ; HOD, Planning, Research and Statistics, RSHQ; HOD, Training, Standardization and Certification; HOD, Operations, RSHQ; and HOD, Motor Vehicle and Administration, RSHQ
Awards and honours received by him include Corps Marshal and Chief Executive Award; Certified Distinguished Administrator Award, Institute of Corporate Administration; American Medal of Honour, American Biographical Institute, USA; Man of the Year Award, American Biographical Institute, USA; and Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR). (NAN features)
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