By Ado Oyeyemi
The Federal Road Safety Corps has prohibited its personnel from providing escorts for politicians during campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that patrol vehicles and sirens must not be used for political or private engagements.
The directive was issued by the FRSC Zonal Commanding Officer for RS6, ACM Abimbola Owolabi, during her maiden visit to the Cross River State Command in Calabar on Wednesday.
Owolabi also directed officers deployed to political campaign venues to restrict their activities to traffic management, stressing that they must not lead political convoys or provide security escorts for politicians.
According to a statement by the News Agency of Nigeria, the zonal commander warned that official vehicles and equipment must not be deployed for unauthorised purposes, including weddings and funeral processions.
She said officers assigned to campaign venues should concentrate on maintaining free traffic flow and preventing congestion and road crashes rather than participating in political activities.
The directive comes as political activities are expected to intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the FRSC emphasising the need for its personnel to remain professional and focused on their statutory responsibilities.
Owolabi urged officers to strengthen public enlightenment programmes on road safety, noting that sustained awareness campaigns could help reduce road crashes and achieve zero fatalities.
She also cautioned personnel against extortion, corruption and other forms of misconduct, warning that unprofessional behaviour could undermine public confidence in the corps.
“Misconduct by patrol operators and other personnel undermines public confidence in the corps. Officers must be extremely accountable across operational units,” she said.
The zonal commander further advised officers to prioritise their safety during enforcement operations and avoid unnecessary confrontations that could result in assaults, injuries or damage to their uniforms.
She urged personnel to exercise professionalism and discretion when dealing with motorists, particularly in tense situations that could escalate into violence.
On traffic management, Owolabi called for stronger collaboration with private operators to ensure that broken-down vehicles were promptly removed from highways and obstructions cleared to ease movement.
She also stressed the importance of rapid emergency response, effective rescue operations and intensified patrols to reduce road crashes and fatalities.
The commander directed officers to maintain high standards of service delivery and ensure that official correspondence and requests for operational support were properly handled and documented.
She also encouraged personnel to take advantage of the National Health Insurance Scheme, noting that good health was essential for effective service delivery.
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Owolabi appealed to the wives of FRSC personnel under the Road Safety Officers’ Wives Association to support their husbands in carrying out their duties and contributing to the protection of lives on Nigerian roads.
