Eid-el-Kabir: FRSC boss urges patience, vigilance

Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Corps Marshal Boboye Oyeyemi has called for patience and vigilance by road users to ensure accident free Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

Oyeyemi, in his Eid-el-Kabir message to Nigerians, advised motorists to drive with care and consideration for other road users as a reflection of the spirit of sacrifice which the season symbolised.

The Corps Public Education Officer, Mr Bisi Kazeem, in a statement on Monday, quoted Oyeyemi as saying that Eid-el-Kabir is traditionally a feast of sacrifice.

According to him, it provides the opportunity for Muslims to reflect on the sanctity of lives and mercies shown to mankind by God as symbolised by the “substitution of a ram with the life of Ismail”.

He further noted that the lesson of the sacrifice was a demonstration of how God valued human lives, hence the need for people to take measures the necessary measures to ensure human safety.

“The magnanimity shown to prophet Abraham by way of God substituting a ram for the life of his son, Ismail, as is being observed in the Eid-el-Kabir celebration, is a great lesson for mankind.”

Oyeyemi reassured the public that the agency’s commitment to ensuring safer road environments before, during and after any celebration that attracted increased human and vehicular traffic remained unwavering.

He enjoined the people to avoid acts capable of exposing their lives and that of their neighbours to dangers during the celebration.

While congratulating Muslim faithful on the celebration, he said that adequate numbers of FRSC personnel and logistics had been mobilised for effective traffic management, rescue operations and support to road travellers across the country.

It was reported that the corps marshal had directed patrol teams to focus more on specific offences such as wrongful overtaking, use of phone while driving and traffic light violation.

Others are drunk driving, overloading, lane indiscipline as well as use of extra lights by articulated vehicles during the special operations.

He solicited the cooperation of members of the public with personnel of the FRSC and other law enforcement agencies who had been deployed for the assignment across the country.

The corps marshal enjoined them to use the FRSC toll-free line emergency line (122) in the event of a road crash and other emergencies for prompt response.

He said the agency’s facilities would remain open and functional during the celebration and beyond, to attend to members of the public.