Re: You’ve outlived your relevance, Katsina SSG berates Federal Road Safety Corps - Newstrends
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Re: You’ve outlived your relevance, Katsina SSG berates Federal Road Safety Corps

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5 years ago

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By Bisi Kazeem
The attention of the Federal Road Safety Corps has been drawn to a fabricated and fake statement credited to the Secretary to the Government of Katsina State Alhaji Mustapha Inuwa, in a publication by one Agaju Madugba which was published in the Sun News of Tuesday, 24 March, 2021. The crux of the untruth, misinformation, misrepresentation of facts, and a collection of distorted report that the writer spewed to the public is that; the SSG bereted FRSC for outliving their relevance by abandoning the vision and mission of its founding fathers.
Fact is that the distortion presented that is already making the rounds in the media is a total caricature and falsification of the statement made by the SSG during a courtesy visit by the Katsina State Sector Commander, Corps Commander Ali Sule Tanimu to commiserate with him on the unfortunate fire incident that engulfed the central market, and further solicit for more patrol vehicles that will enhance patrol operations in the state.
In the course of the visit, the Sector Commander also briefed the SSG on the ongoing operation clamp down on rickety vehicles and the success so far recorded as well as suggested to the State Government to ban the use of J5 buses to convey people in the State, instead of goods which the vehicle isll originally designed to carry.
The Corps wishes to emphatically state that the SSG did not berate the FRSC in any way possible as purportedly reported in the Sun News, rather, he praised the Corps for standing tall from inception and admonished the Corps to intensify enforcement on some critical offences prevalent in the State.
For the avoidance of doubt, the highlight of the SSG’s statement during the visit that was later distorted is that he commended the operations of the Corps and stated that the FRSC has earned a lot of respect from the motoring public since inception. That he knows the corps is presently short of manpower and needs to employ more youths roaming the street so as to beef up its operational activities and strengthen its enforcement base.
However, the SSG also admonished the management of the Corps to intensify operations and enforcement on overloading of vehicles rather than deploying a huge operational muscle on arresting seat belt use violators.
He also opined that the Corps needs more fund in order to achieve its statutory mandate, he stated inter alia that; ‘I also think that the National Assembly should review the laws establishing the FRSC to see whether they can use a percentage of resources it generates through fines to fund aspects of its operations’.
From the positive submissions made by the SSG, the Corps expected the writer and the publisher to have directed their journalistic expertise into reporting the exact statements and intent of the speaker, rather than aim at, in a single publication, denting an image that took the Corps more than 3 decades to build. The Corps still wonders what the writer tends to achieve at the end of the day.
As a matter of fact, the Corps seeks to restate its commitment towards the realisation of its corporate mandate of eradicating road traffic crashes and creating a safer motoring environment in Nigeria and will not be deterred or discouraged in whatever manner from saving lives on Nigerian roads through continuous deployment of strategic initiatives that could eradicate every menace of road traffic crashes on Nigerian roads.
The Federal Road Safety is a highly dynamic, technology driven, responsible, ISO certified, and highly professional organization and pledges to remain so at all times. As such, wishes to state that it is still on course and working assiduously towards the realisation of its corporate mandate as evidenced in the drastic reduction in road traffic crashes and improved driving culture achieved through continual impactful public enlightenment campaigns of the Corps from inception to date.
On the strength of the foregoing, the Corps therefore wishes to reiterate the blazing truth that the allegations levelled against it in the distorted media publication are not true and can only be taken as false narratives deliberately orchestrated to portray the lead agency in road safety administration and traffic management in bad image as well as ridicule its tremendous achievements recorded in its 33 years of existence.
Consequently, the Corps Marshal, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, enjoins members of the public to disregard the falsehood inherent in the publication and the misinformation it has created in some sections of the social and mainstream media, groups and interests. He therefore uses this medium to appreciate the media for its watchdog role and further call on journalists to always endeavour to be objective in news reportage as subjectivism, no matter how negligible it is in news reporting, could go a long way in damaging institutional images built over the years with a great deal of sacrifice, dedication, commitment and patriotism.
  • Kazeem is Corps Public Education Officer at the FRSC Hqtrs, Abuja

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Abuja Roars to Life as Jetour X50 Headlines Three-Day Motoring Experience

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6 hours ago

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September 8, 2026

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Abuja Roars to Life as Jetour X50 Headlines Three-Day Motoring Experience 

 

Abuja is gearing up for a major motoring spectacle as Jetour Nigeria brings its fast-growing brand experience to the Federal Capital Territory, with the stylish Jetour X50 set to take centre stage in a three-day showcase of performance, technology and automotive innovation.

Scheduled for September 22 to 24, 2026, the Jetour Experience Abuja will move beyond the conventional vehicle exhibition, giving motorists and prospective buyers the opportunity to test-drive the X50, interact with automotive specialists and experience a range of entertainment and interactive activities.

The Abuja activation follows the strong reception recorded during Jetour Nigeria’s recent Lagos experience and forms part of the automaker’s strategy to deepen customer engagement while expanding its footprint across Nigeria.

Backed by an expanding authorised dealer network comprising Elizade Nigeria Limited, Mandilas Autos, Germaine Auto Centre, Kojo Motors, R.T. Briscoe, Tab Autos and New Era AutoVehicle Services, Jetour is also strengthening access to vehicle sales, after-sales support, genuine spare parts and certified technical services nationwide.

At the heart of the Abuja experience will be the Jetour X50, a compact SUV designed to combine contemporary styling, performance and a technology-rich driving environment.

Powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine paired with a dual-clutch transmission, the X50 has positioned itself as a strong contender in Nigeria’s competitive compact SUV segment.

Jetour has equipped the model with a range of premium features, including a 360-degree camera, Blind Spot Detection, 10.5-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless charging and leather upholstery.

The combination of technology, comfort and performance is part of Jetour’s strategy of offering premium motoring features at competitive price points.

The Abuja event also highlights Jetour’s aggressive expansion strategy in Nigeria, following the brand’s recognition with industry accolades including Fastest Growing Auto Brand and Auto Brand of the Year.

With its expanding dealer network providing nationwide sales and after-sales support, Jetour is seeking to deepen customer engagement while making its vehicles and ownership services more accessible to motorists across the country.

As Abuja prepares to welcome the Jetour Experience, the three-day activation is expected to provide motorists with an opportunity to see, feel and drive the X50 while experiencing first-hand what is driving the brand’s growing appeal in Nigeria.

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Kaduna to Lead Govt Patronage of Local Vehicles as Sani Unveils Peugeot 5008

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2 days ago

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September 7, 2026

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Kaduna to Lead Govt Patronage of Local Vehicles as Sani Unveils Peugeot 5008

Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has pledged to lead a fresh push for government patronage of vehicles assembled by Dangote Peugeot Automobile Nigeria (D-PAN), promising to make a strong case for the company at the National Economic Council (NEC).

Sani, who made the commitment while unveiling the new Peugeot 5008 2026 model at the D-PAN plant in Kaduna on Friday, said increased patronage by Federal and state government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) was critical to sustaining local vehicle assembly, protecting jobs and strengthening Nigeria’s automotive value chain.

The governor’s intervention comes amid renewed efforts to revive Nigeria’s automotive manufacturing industry by increasing local vehicle production and reducing dependence on imported completely built units.

Industry stakeholders have consistently identified government fleet procurement as a major instrument for creating sustained demand for locally assembled vehicles and encouraging investment in assembly plants.

With government agencies operating large vehicle fleets nationwide, stronger preference for locally assembled automobiles could provide the market certainty required by assemblers to expand production, develop local suppliers and deepen technology and skills transfer. It could also support the broader objective of increasing local content in Nigeria’s automotive industry.

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Against this background, Sani said government patronage remained crucial to ensuring the sustainability of local assembly operations and encouraging further investment in the sector.

“I will make a strong presentation at the National Economic Council, urging both the Federal and state governments to patronise the products of this company because that is the only way they can survive,” Sani said.

He also announced that the Kaduna State Government would procure some vehicles from D-PAN, saying the state would lead by example and encourage other governments to patronise locally assembled automobiles.

“As a government, Kaduna State will order some of the vehicles, so that we can show the example for others to follow by patronising this very important company,” the governor added.

Sani pledged continued support and collaboration between the Kaduna State Government and D-PAN, stressing the importance of strengthening local manufacturing as part of efforts to grow Nigeria’s industrial base.

He said D-PAN had made significant contributions to Kaduna’s economy through job creation, skills development and business opportunities for communities within and around its operating environment.

The governor also urged the company to consider employing graduates of the Kaduna State Institute of Vocational and Skills Development, who, according to him, recently completed intensive training in partnership with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).

Sani commended D-PAN for its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives in communities around its plant, while urging the company to further expand its support for the host communities.

He said the peaceful relationship between D-PAN and its host community was important to the sustainability of the company’s operations, stressing that continued investment in the welfare and development of surrounding communities would help preserve the harmony.

 

Kaduna to Lead Govt Patronage of Local Vehicles as Sani Unveils Peugeot 5008

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NAJA 19th Auto Awards: Industry’s best to battle for honours December 3

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3 days ago

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September 5, 2026

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NAJA 19th Auto Awards: Industry’s best to battle for honours December 3

The battle for recognition among Nigeria’s automobile brands, executives and industry players will reach its climax on December 3, 2026, as the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) stages the grand finale of its 19th annual automotive awards.

The prestigious ceremony, scheduled for the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, is expected to bring together leading automobile manufacturers, distributors, dealers, financial institutions, policymakers, motoring enthusiasts and other major stakeholders in the automotive industry.

The organisers said the 19th edition is being designed to surpass previous editions in scale, organisation and glamour, without compromising the credibility and professional standards for which the awards have become known.

Chairman of the 2026 NAJA Awards Planning Committee, Frank Kintum, said the committee was determined to deliver a ceremony that would reflect the growing importance of the automotive industry to Nigeria’s economy.

According to him, the awards have evolved beyond a mere celebration of popular brands to become a platform for identifying and rewarding individuals, companies and products that have made measurable contributions to the development of the sector.

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Kintum said the 19th edition would be “bigger and more glamorous” than previous editions, adding that the committee was working to ensure that every aspect of the ceremony reflects the quality, innovation and achievements of the industry.

He said products, brands and personalities would be assessed across relevant segments of the automotive sector, with winners emerging through the approved NAJA awards modalities.

Also speaking on the awards, NAJA Chairman, Theodore Opara, said the association was focused on rewarding genuine excellence rather than simply celebrating the biggest players in the market.

Opara said the objective was to recognise individuals and organisations that had demonstrated measurable excellence and made meaningful contributions to the growth and transformation of Nigeria’s automotive industry.

He noted that the awards had continued to gain relevance among industry stakeholders because of the credibility attached to the judging and evaluation process.

The 2026 edition comes at a critical period for Nigeria’s automotive industry, which is undergoing significant transformation driven by emerging technologies, electric mobility, local vehicle production, changing consumer preferences and evolving government policies.

Against this backdrop, NAJA said the awards would provide an opportunity to celebrate companies and individuals at the forefront of these changes and those contributing to the future direction of the industry.

The association urged automobile manufacturers, distributors, dealers and other stakeholders to participate actively in the awards process as preparations gather momentum for the December 3 grand finale.

 

NAJA 19th Auto Awards: Industry’s best to battle for honours December 3

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