Arming the FRSC: A dangerous distraction from Nigeria’s road safety crisis

BY JAMES SUNDAY IGAH

The recent push by the house of representatives to amend the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Act, 2007, to allow the establishment of a special armed squad within the FRSC is alarming and should be met with public opposition. This bill, currently at its second reading, seeks to empower FRSC officers with firearms under the guise of enhancing road safety and minimising traffic violations. While improving road safety is a noble goal, arming the FRSC is a misguided and dangerous solution that could lead to disastrous consequences.

One need only look at the #EndSARS movement of 2020 to understand the potential risks of giving road safety officers firearms. The special anti-robbery squad (SARS), which was disbanded due to widespread allegations of police brutality, extrajudicial killings, and extortion, serves as a painful reminder of how law enforcement in Nigeria has misused power. Arming FRSC officers could create another paramilitary-style force prone to similar abuses, with deadly consequences for ordinary Nigerians. The last thing Nigeria needs is another law enforcement agency that operates with impunity and puts citizens’ lives at risk.

The Federal Road Safety Corps was created to ensure the safe use of roads, not to serve as an armed enforcement agency. Its primary mandate includes preventing road accidents, educating road users, and regulating traffic. The introduction of guns into an organisation focused on safety and education undermines this very mission. It transforms road safety enforcement from a civilian-friendly service to one that could easily escalate conflicts during routine traffic stops. Such confrontations, when guns are involved, can quickly turn fatal.

There is ample evidence online showing the reckless and dangerous behaviour of some FRSC officers. Videos have surfaced of officers jumping onto moving vehicles, clinging to car doors, or engaging in unsafe practices during routine traffic checks. These incidents not only endanger the lives of officers but also pose significant risks to the drivers and passengers involved. If the FRSC cannot demonstrate restraint and professionalism in their current operations, the idea of arming them is even more troubling. These behaviours reflect a lack of adequate training and enforcement of safety protocols, and arming these officers will likely exacerbate the problem.

Rather than arming road safety officers, the FRSC should focus on implementing technologically assisted enforcement methods, as the House of Representatives itself suggested. Tools like automatic vehicle location systems, advanced data platforms, and automated traffic enforcement systems have been proven to reduce traffic violations and improve road safety in countries around the world. These technologies can help the FRSC identify and track offenders without the risks associated with arming its personnel.

Furthermore, it is crucial for lawmakers to focus their legislative efforts on promoting good governance and policies that directly benefit the people. Instead of passing laws that would arm traffic officers, who should be focused on road safety, legislators should prioritise bills that improve infrastructure, accountability, and transparency in government operations.

Nigerian citizens deserve laws that promote development, safety, and stability, not ones that create additional threats to their lives on the roads.

Most importantly, Nigeria’s roads are death traps, littered with potholes, and lacking proper maintenance. These roads are not fit for use and are a significant cause of accidents and fatalities. Rather than debating the merits of arming road safety officers, the government should focus on using taxpayer money to fix these roads and make them safer for all.

Poor road conditions, not unarmed officers, are responsible for many of the traffic accidents in Nigeria. If the roads were properly maintained, the need for such aggressive enforcement would drastically reduce. Lawmakers should prioritise the safety of Nigerians by ensuring that the country’s roads are safe and car-worthy, which would save more lives than putting guns in the hands of road safety officers.

Equipping the FRSC with guns will not lead to safer roads; it will create a new source of conflict and violence. The Nigerian government should focus on real, sustainable solutions to traffic safety that do not involve turning road safety officers into armed enforcers. If this bill becomes law, the outcome could be worse than the #EndSARS crisis. We must learn from our past mistakes and stop this disaster before it begins

James, a communications specialist and public affairs analyst writes from Abuja.