Lawmakers want FRSC personnel to carry guns

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) personnel on patrol should be allowed to bear firearms to curtail excesses of road users in Nigeria, some National Assembly members have said.

Specifically, the House Committee on Road Safety said the road marshals had been empowered to carry arms to protest themselves and be more effective, adding that they would mount pressure on the Federal Government to implement this.

The Chairman of the committee, Akinfolarin Mayowa, who gave the indication during the corps’ 2020 budget performance and 2021 budget defence in Abuja, explained that the 1992 Act of FRSC allowed the corps to carry guns.

NAN reports Mayowa as saying the implementation had become necessary to ensure laws were obeyed and to allow the FRSC function effectively.

He disclosed that the committee would meet with Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, and write to President Muhammadu Buhari to implement the Act.

A member, Solomon Maren, added that the committee would discuss the matter with the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu.

The lawmaker said there were more risks on the roads, adding that the FRSC should now bear arms.

The FRSC Corps Marshall, Boboye Oyeyemi, has decried incidents where motorists threatened personnel on duty.

Oyeyemi stressed that weapon bearing for protection would curtail violent road users and protect officers.

According to him, the corps has 280 formations, with presence in nearly all the 774 local government areas in Nigeria.