By Kenneth Onuoha
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says it has deployed no fewer than 1,250 personnel for its Operation Zero duties within this Yuletide.
FRSC Sector Commander in Enugu State, Mr Kalu Ogbonnaya, told newsmen in Enugu on Tuesday that the 1,250 personnel were made-up of 1,020 Regular Marshals and 230 Special Marshals.
Ogbonnaya said that the FRSC Command had deployed 33 vehicles, which included; 30 patrol vehicles, two ambulances and one heavy duty tow truck.
He also said that the command had made ready its two extricating machines meant to cut through vehicles to release trapped occupants of vehicles during road crashes.
The sector commander said that the special “Operation Zero’’ exercise, which started from December 7, would run to January 18, 2021.
He said that the personnel deployed were meant to work for 24 hours and “they have to operate three shifts each day to cover the day round’’.
According to him, we have deployed all staff, both operational, administrative, education/public enlightenment and statistics/data to the roads to ensure free flow of traffic in the state this Yuletide.
“The FRSC Headquarters also gave us additional personnel and vehicular logistics to shore-up what the state command has,’’ he said.
Ogbonnaya said that the sector command and its five unit commands, outpost in Oji River and Zebra had fashioned out strategy to tackle grid locks in the axis of the state where there is always build-up of traffic.
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“These special axis or spots included; the 4-Corner junction; NOWA junction in Abakpa; Eke Obinagu Junction in Emene; New Market Junction; Opi Junction and Obolloafor Junction among others,’’ he said.
The sector commander said that the corps would be working in collaboration with sister security agencies and other stakeholders such as tow truck operators and construction companies for additional rescue machines.
“Our major trust in this special operation – Operation Zero – is to ensure road discipline especially lane discipline by drivers; check overloading, over-speeding and non installation of speed limiting devices.
“We are going to watch out for underage drivers, driving under the influence of alcohol and driving of mechanically deficient vehicles among others,’’ he added.