The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Dauda Biu, has called for the implementation of jail terms for reckless drivers contributing to road accidents across Nigeria.
Biu made this proposition in response to recent preventable crashes in various parts of the country, including Oyo, Kano, and Kaduna.
Addressing reporters at a press conference held in Abuja on Wednesday, Biu emphasized the necessity for stringent penalties, including imprisonment without the option of fines, to deter irresponsible driving behavior.
He revealed that the FRSC has reached out to all state governors, urging them to prosecute drivers who violate road laws.
Biu stated, We have written to all state governors to help prosecute drivers causing road crashes. We have received a letter from the Kaduna State government of its commitment to prosecute these drivers. We hope that other states will follow suit in directing their Commissioners of Justice or police so that drivers who indulge or violate road rules are prosecuted.
“In fact, we are advocating a jail term without an option of fines, so that by the time we have 50 jailed drivers, everyone will take caution. It is a collective effort.”
Furthermore, Biu highlighted the FRSC’s intensified collaboration with the judiciary across Nigeria’s 36 states to expedite the trial of drivers involved in road accidents.
He emphasized that offenders would face legal consequences to dissuade others from engaging in reckless driving.
He added, “The FRSC is already deepening ongoing collaboration with the judiciary across the 36 federation states for speedy trial of drivers involved in road traffic crashes.
“As such, all drivers and vehicle owners who cause crashes on the roads will face the wrath of the law, and this will serve as a deterrent to others who are recalcitrant and drive dangerously or recklessly on the road.”
During his address, Biu also noted a significant reduction in fatalities during the 2024 Easter and Eid-el-Fitr holidays compared to the previous year, indicating progress in road safety initiatives.
Speaking further, he articulated, “During the 2024 Easter special patrol period, the corps recorded a reduction in fatalities as 33 victims were killed in 2024 against 81 killed in the same period in 2023. This represents a 59.3 per cent reduction.
“Similarly, during the Eid-El-Fitr special patrol, while the total number of people killed in 2023 was 59, those killed in the same period in 2024 reduced to 28, signifying a drop of 52.5 per cent,” Biu concluded.
