The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has announced a nationwide crackdown on the illegal transport of flammable substances, including petroleum products.
The initiative, ordered by Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed, is a response to recent fire-related road accidents that have resulted in devastating losses.
The FRSC’s new directive involves deploying patrol operatives across major highways in Nigeria. These operatives will conduct rigorous searches to identify vehicles carrying inflammable materials.
The goal is to ensure these substances are either safely emptied into the vehicles’ tanks or removed from the vehicles entirely.
In a statement issued on Friday, Shehu Mohammed emphasised the seriousness of the situation.
“The directives include a massive deployment of patrol operatives on the nation’s highways to conduct searches and identify vehicles carrying these products,” said Mohammed.
“We are also ensuring that drivers empty the fuel into their cars.”
As part of the crackdown, FRSC operatives will also engage in awareness campaigns to educate drivers and passengers about the dangers of transporting petroleum products.
The campaign will highlight the risks associated with carrying such substances and the potential for catastrophic accidents.
Mohammed also stressed that, unlike previous operations, drivers found transporting these products could face prosecution if they compromise passenger safety.
“No excuse is acceptable for such a dastardly act,” he said. “The engagement will target ensuring that those products, when sighted, are emptied into the fuel tank of the vehicles.”
The directive comes on the heels of a recent investigation into fire-related road crashes. The investigation revealed that many of these accidents involved vehicles carrying petroleum products, which significantly contributed to the severity of the fires.
“The investigation report revealed that drivers often carry petroleum products while in transit,” Mohammed explained. “As such, in the event of a crash, the impact often results in flames leading to heartbreaking fatalities that could have been avoided.”
To support the crackdown, the FRSC has directed its Corps Public Education Officers (CPEOs) nationwide to complement the intervention patrols with aggressive sensitization of road users.
Passengers are also encouraged to play an active role in ensuring their safety. Mohammed called on them to report any suspicious activity to FRSC patrol teams or through emergency lines if they suspect that a vehicle contains inflammable substances.
“This will help curtail these excesses and enhance the safety of lives and properties as commuters transit from one destination to another,” he assured.