Mensen Seeks Legislation For FRSC Personnel To Hold Arms

The President Court of Appeal, Mrs Monica Dongban Memsem , has called for a legislation empowering the Federal Road Safety Corps FRSC to hold arms in carrying out its operations.

Speaking during a One day National Strategy to implement the Morocco Marrakech Declaration on Road Safety organized by Kwapdaas Road Safety Demand KRSD in Abuja, Mrs Monica Dongban- Mensen said it was necessary for FRSC personnel to arm themselves to enforce traffic rules especially drivers of Lorries and trucks as well as other articulated vehicles.

The President Court of Appeal, who is also the founder of KRSD also decried the present situation whereby the ongoing road construction in the FCT made pedestrians y o struggle with vehicles to use the roads .

According to her, construction companies have collapsed the allotted space for pedestrians due to the road construction .

She therefore appealed to Government at all levels to always carry stakeholders in the transport Sector along in the road construction.

Mrs Dongban-Mensen maintained that the country would not achieve fifty percent of the United Nations Decade of Action 2021 to 2030 on road safety until all stakeholders come together in the implementation of road safety policies.

Delivering the keynote address, FRSC Corps Marshal Mallam Shehu Mohammed underscored Nigeria’s commitment to reducing road traffic crashes by 50% by 2030, in line with the United Nations Resolution.

He highlighted Nigeria’s inauguration of a National Road Safety Advisory Council chaired by the Vice President Senator Kashim Shetimma as one of key steps towards this goal.

“We are almost at the halfway mark of this strategy. This discussion will help us assess our progress and identify areas where we need to intensify our efforts”.

He called on stakeholders to play their part in making Nigerian roads safer.

The guest speaker from Senegal, Mrs Ndeye Hawa emphasized that Africa remains the only continent where road deaths are rising.

She urged African governments to strengthen road safety governance, improve emergency response, and invest in safer infrastructure.

“The Marrakech Declaration, adopted at the Global Ministerial Road Safety Conference in Morocco, is a critical commitment to reducing road traffic fatalities. Yet, Africa still lags in implementation. We must prioritize stronger enforcement, better vehicle standards, and post-crash care.”

Hawa also stressed the role of NGOs in road safety advocacy, particularly in securing justice for victims and ensuring their rights are not ignored.

“Road safety is a shared responsibility. We must work together to transform policies into action and make our roads safer for all.”

She criticized the influx of substandard vehicles into Africa, calling for stringent regulations to prevent the importation of unsafe cars.

The seminar concluded with a call for greater government-NGO collaboration, increased funding for road safety initiatives, and the adoption of community-focused interventions.

Nigeria is expected to hold an international Conference on Road Safety to voice out the need for vehicle manufacturers to stop dumping used vehicles on African countries.