By Ohaeri Osondu
Radar guns, breathalyzers, body cameras, red light enforcement, automated number plate and drivers’ license verification and law enforcement interactions with the public are all examples of contemporary strategies towards strengthening capacity for road safety management in Nigeria. Speed limit signs indicate safe bounds for drivers to stay within while driving, in addition to other road signs and flashing lights which indicate when extraordinary caution is needed on the road. Even in other climes such as the USA and UK, the positive impact of digital solutions in road safety management, cannot be over emphasized.
It is therefore most worrisome that in the face of these measures and other innovative strategies put in place by the FRSC to address reckless driving and improper road use, road crashes and fatalities related to unsafe driving and poor road infrastructure seem to be on the increase on Nigerian roads.
Since 20th May 2024 when President Bola Tinubu approved the appointment of Mallam Shehu Mohammed as the 8th Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC and the 3rd to be appointed from the ranks, the Corps Marshal has not left anyone in doubt about his intent and proposed road map towards repositioning the FRSC as the nation’s lead agency on road safety management and traffic administration.
Buoyed by the wide jubilation borne out of the long expectations of the people that a competent officer with full understanding of the vision and mission of the organization has come on board, Mallam Shehu immediately hit the ground running with definite assurances to effect a new paradigm shift that will positively change the narrative and commitment of the Corps with the mandate to bequette safer driving culture to Nigerian road users.
Interestingly, the Corps Marshal had in his maiden address, stated that his leadership will focus on five major principles which are to upscale digitalization of its procedures, training and retraining of staff to enhance professionalism, improve the presence and visibility of the Corps across the nation’s highways, promoting strategic partnership for collective responsibility, entrenching discipline in line with ethics of regimentation and improving staff welfare for efficient service Delivery, all encapsulated under the principle of People, Process and Technology (PPT).
Driven by these commitments, his first point of call was the visits to national driver’s license processing Centers in Wuse, Federal Secretariate and the Print Farm in Kado as well as the vehicle number plate production Plant in Gwagwalada in the Federal Capital Territory. In his words, “the visits were necessitated by the need to carry out physical assessment and address lingering challenges associated with the drivers’ license occasioned by infrastructural technical issues and noticeable gaps in managing the motor vehicle administration mechanism of the Corps”.
Commendably, this strategic intervention resulted to the production of about 74,000 licenses in two weeks which led to the clearing of backlog of drivers’ licenses at various Centres across the country. Presently, Nigerians can attest to the fact of seamless process in obtaining their drivers’ license. Besides a gradual restoration of the integrity of the Nigerian drivers’ license, the Corps Marshal has replicated similar strategies by strengthening the production capacity of vehicle number plate Plants thus culminating to the availability of vehicle number plates.
The adoption of improved digital method of operation is not merely a nod to modernity but a fundamental shift that addresses the growing complexities of road safety management in Nigeria. Under his watch, the FRSC has begun implementing advanced data management systems to monitor and analyze traffic patterns, accident reports, and enforcement activities. The Corps Marshal has also initiated comprehensive training programs aimed at equipping personnel with hands-on skills and knowledge in road safety management, law enforcement, and customer service. These programs are designed not only to improve the technical competence of FRSC officers and men but also to foster a culture of discipline, integrity, and excellence within the Corps.
As an Officer with over 30 years cognate experience in road safety management and administration and driven by the passion to properly re-align the FRSC to live up to public expectation, under Mallam Shehu’s watch within 100 days in office, the Corps has raised the bar on its operational front after the 2024 special patrols usually initiated to ensure seamless flow of vehicular and human traffic in addition to road crash reduction during the festive seasons.
Aside from achieving 41% in the number of passengers rescued without injuries, there was also corresponding reduction of 51% in road traffic crashes, 38% downward slide in the number of people involved, 35% reduction in number of people killed and 35% decrease in the number of injured persons within this period. This underscores the Corps Marshal’s disposition towards safer roads and fuller lives for the Nigerian motoring public.
*FRSC Mobole App and the National Crash Reporting Information System (NACRIS)
In keeping with his words on assumption of duty to raise the bar on digitalized operations in the FRSC in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinunu, the Corps Marshal scored another master stroke last week through the formal launch of a Mobile App and a National Crash Reporting Information System (NACRIS) designed to raise awareness and sensitize both drivers and passengers on the potential causative factors of road traffic crashes and to break new grounds in the Corps’ sustained efforts to create safer motoring environment in Nigeria and digital transformation of the FRSC to further boost the nation’s economic growth.
In his words, “the FRSC Mobile App is a software application that can be used on our phones to alert us on sensitive road safety issues through programmed features such as excessive speeding, dangerous driving, verifying our vehicle documents amongst others. The proper application of these features is expected to drastically reduce injuries and fatalities resulting from road traffic crashes. In this era of technological advancement, FRSC cannot afford to lag behind. It is in this light that the Corps has decided to adapt and evolve its operations into the global network service system”.
As an interactive digital tool, the mobile App will usher Nigerians into a new horizon on road safety management through the following:
Emergency reporting by road users on road traffic crashes, patrol misconduct, traffic gridlock and customer satisfaction.
Speed detector feature that beeps on any phone the application is installed on when a driver moves above prescribed speed limit on specified roads and vehicle category.
Black spot (crash prone locations on the highways) indicator as a crash prevention tool that prompts road users at 2km to an identified crash prone area.
Verification or confirmation of the validity of some of the Corps’ services such as the National Drivers’ License, Vehicle Number Plate, etc.
Integration of National Vehicle Identification Scheme, National Drivers’ License, Driving School Standardization Program, Road Transport Safety Standardization Scheme and the Speed Limit Device online services for easy accessibility without unnecessary human interface.
Provision of regular relevant news update on road traffic in the country.
Help and learning interface on Frequently Asked Questions on road safety.
Reminder interface for vehicle tyre replacement, oil change & amp; services, vehicle paper, Driver’s Licence, fire extinguisher replacement and customized reminder for users.
Emergency contact numbers on road emergencies and other security outfits.
Ability to report stolen vehicle to the Corps for tracking/recovery.
Aside from being optimized to run on various digital systems at most efficient rate, the Mobile App is also designed to promote road user’s safety and promote a culture of inclusivity in road safety prioritization in Nigeria.
On the other hand, the NACRIS is designed to promote a multi-sectoral approach to crash reporting and data storage. Taking cognizance of data as a veritable tool for planning and allocation of resources, the NACRIS approach is designed to ensure that collated data is utilized for effective implementation of policies that would impact positively on road safety administration.
NACRIS underscores the Corps’ efforts demonstrated over the years to generate information about road traffic crash such as the inauguration of Road Traffic Crash Information System in 2014 and the harmonized reporting format of Road Traffic Crash to align with contemporary global best practice.
It is a web application that allows the Corps to analyze the economic, health and other burdens that road traffic crashes leaves on the shoulders of our nation, as well as helps in intelligence sharing with relevant stakeholders such as the Nigerian Police, National Emergency Management Agency, National Bureau of Statistic, National Population Commission, Ministries of Works and Transport, etc.
Taking into cognizance of Road transportation as the most widely used means of transportation in all countries including Nigeria, there is no doubt that with unfettered public buy-in and seamless government support through improved funding, rehabilitation of roads, installation of appropriate road signs and markings, the FRSC Mobile App and the National Crash Reporting Information System will further strengthen the FRSC under the present Corps Marshal to deliver on its mandate of entrenching safer road culture on Nigerian highways.
*Ohaeri, Fnipr, Fcai, is a Deputy Corps Commander at the FRSC National Headquarters and a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations
