The Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, on Wednesday banned the operations of the Federal Road Safety Corps in Kaduna metropolis, alleging that the activities of the agency were responsible for avoidable traffic congestion and accidents in the state.
The governor said the federal agency must henceforth conduct its operations only on the highways and not within the town where, he claimed, the corps had constituted a nuisance to motorists and other road users.
El-Rufai’s decision to ban the agency was taken after the state’s Security Council meeting held at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House, Kaduna.
The council’s decision conveyed in a statement by the governor’s Special Assistance on Media and Publicity, Mr. Samuel Aruwan, read in part, “The Kaduna State Security Council barred personnel of the Federal Road Safety Corps from erecting checkpoints in Kaduna metropolis and other urban centres in the state.”
The council, the statement added, prohibited the FRSC personnel from indiscriminate stoppage of vehicles for inspection in Kaduna town, stressing the act had been responsible for avoidable traffic congestion and accidents.
It said the council acted following complaints that FRSC officials were acting in ways reminiscent of the Vehicle Inspection Officers that were dissolved by the state government following widespread complaints.
In 2016, the Federal Government granted the requests by the Kaduna State Government and redesignated the Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway (the Western Bye-pass) and Ahmadu Bello Road as state roads.
Residents complain that FRSC officials create traffic bottleneck on these state roads.
Also, the council directed that transporters should stop loading firewood, tomatoes and other goods on petrol tankers throughout the state. It drew the attention of the public to the hazards such practices posed to lives and property.
The council said the decisions became necessary after reviewing the trend and noting concerns expressed by citizens over the hardship and accidents at FRSC checkpoints.
It mandated security agencies to ensure compliance with the directives.
The council meeting was chaired by Governor Nasir El-Rufai.
