The Federal Road Safety Corps has commenced a special patrol and awareness exercise against overloading, mixed loading and other traffic offences for safer roads. The exercise aims to strengthen road safety enforcement and public awareness.

The zonal commanding officer in charge of Zone 10, Shaba Bariam-Akanbi, inaugurated the three-day exercise on Monday in Sokoto.

Mr Bariam-Akanbi said the exercise was in compliance with the directives of the corps marshal, Shehu Mohammed, to strengthen enforcement against dangerous road practices across the country.

He said the special operation tagged ‘Daidaita Lodi’ and ‘Lodi Limit’, was ongoing simultaneously across Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara. He noted that the exercise was being conducted simultaneously across the FRSC’s 12 zones nationwide.

According to him, the operation will target overloading, mixed loading of passengers and goods, highway obstruction and other traffic violations.

He reiterated that the FRSC’s primary objective is to reduce road crashes and create a safer motoring environment.

He added that the corps would combine enforcement with public enlightenment to ensure that motorists and transport operators comply with the traffic rules and regulations.

In his remarks, Sokoto’s transport commissioner, Bala Kokani-Kebbe, said the campaign was timely, noting that overloading remained one of the major causes of avoidable road accidents.

He lamented that some commercial vehicles, particularly small passenger buses, were often overloaded with passengers and goods, with luggage stacked on their roofs, especially during evening trips.

Mr Kokani-Kebbe assured FRSC of the Sokoto government’s full support in enforcing traffic laws to safeguard lives and property.

Similarly, the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad-Abubakar, pledged the Sultanate Council’s support for road safety campaigns both in the state and across the country.

The sultan commended the FRSC for sustaining public sensitisation, noting that greater compliance with their messages would significantly reduce accidents, overloading and other traffic violations.

FRSC’s sector commander, Adamu Argungu, said traffic offenders arrested during the operations would be prosecuted through mobile courts.

Mr Argungu warned transport operators to comply with safety regulations or face the consequences.

As part of the exercise, several traffic offenders arrested for various violations were arraigned before a mobile court sitting at the venue, where appropriate sanctions were imposed in line with existing traffic laws.

(NAN)