TheCable

The Kogi command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says it has deployed 800 officers for highway patrol in the state ahead of the Christmas celebrations.

Speaking in Lokoja, the state’s capital on Wednesday, Samuel Oyedeji, the sector commander, said as part of its Operation Zero Road Traffic Crash during the yuletide, the agency commenced the patrol on December 15 and would round off on Monday, January 15.

Oyedeji said the agency has also deployed 25 patrol vehicles and three ambulances, appealing to motorists to obey traffic rules and avoid using cell phones when driving.

He added that four help centres have been set up in Ejule, Ajaokuta, Osara and Okene for prompt emergency rescue services, with five camps in Lokoja, Koton Karfe, Zariagi and Okene for 24 hours traffic control operations.

“In addition to the manpower available in the state, not less than 40 personnel have been detailed from the FRSC zonal headquarters, Ilorin to beef up the manpower, and senior officers from the RSHQ, Abuja would be on ground to monitor and supervise the exercise across the state,” he said.

“All these are in demonstration of our readiness to strengthen safety on the roads through series of operations aimed at ensuring free flow of traffic, curbing reckless driving and clearing the roads of abandoned vehicles which preceded the deployment for the festive season.

“These operations include: mobile court sittings, obstruction clearing on highways in the state in conjunction with the state government.”