There are strong indications that personnel of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) would soon begin to bear arms.
Speaking with Nigerian Guardian, a member of the FRSC board, who pleaded anonymity, said:
“The FRSC has built its armoury in Gwagwalada Abuja, while there are weapon rooms in all the commands of the corps.”
“We are waiting for government to gazette the approval and equip the armoury in line with the act that established the corps.”
“The essence of the ongoing training and workshop for the personnel is to prepare them on how to comport themselves while bearing arms on duty.”
Speaking also to the news outlet, the commission’s spokesman, Bisi Kazeem, revealed that though the act permits FRSC personnel to bear arms, the corps is waiting for government to gazette the approval.
“I am not aware that the government has perfected a plan to gazette the approval. I am not aware of that,” he said.
In December 2016, the FRSC was forced to release a statement urging members of the public to ignore reports that the corps had begun distributing and mandating its personnel to carry arms.
The statement came amid a complaint by Corps Marshal Boboye Oyeyemi that 70 officers lost their lives that year to reckless motorists.
But Kazeem had told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the rumour was being circulated by mischievous elements seeking to provoke disorder in the society.
Some “irresponsible” people took a statement by the Corps Marshal, Boboye Oyeyemi, out of context to suit their agenda, he said.
