Election Campaigns: FRSC bars officers from escorting politicians

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has barred its personnel from escorting politicians during campaigns for the 2027 general elections.

Abimbola Owolabi, zonal commanding officer, RS6, gave the directive during her maiden visit to the Cross River Command in Calabar on Wednesday.

Ms Owolabi said patrol vehicles and sirens must not be used for political activities or private engagements, including weddings and funeral processions.

She directed officers deployed to campaign venues to focus exclusively on traffic management to prevent congestion and road crashes.

The zonal head warned personnel against leading political convoys or providing escorts for politicians, stressing that official vehicles must not be used for unauthorised purposes.

She urged officers to intensify public education on road safety, noting that sustained awareness campaigns could reduce crashes and help achieve zero fatalities.

Ms Owolabi also warned against extortion, corruption and other unprofessional conduct, urging personnel to protect the corps’ reputation through accountability.

“Misconduct by patrol operators and other personnel undermines public confidence in the corps. Officers must be extremely accountable across operational units,” she said.

She advised officers to prioritise their safety during enforcement operations and avoid unnecessary confrontations that could lead to assaults, injuries or damage to their uniforms.

Ms Owolabi urged personnel to exercise professionalism and discretion when dealing with motorists, particularly in volatile situations that could escalate into violence.

She called for stronger partnerships with private operators to ensure broken-down vehicles were promptly removed from highways and traffic obstructions cleared.

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The zonal commander also stressed the need for prompt emergency response, effective rescue operations and intensified patrols to reduce road crashes and fatalities.

“I urge FRSC personnel to maintain high standards of service delivery, process official correspondence carefully and ensure requests for operational support are properly documented,” she said.

She encouraged officers to prioritise their health and utilise the National Health Insurance Scheme, noting that good health was essential for effective service delivery.

Ms Owolabi also appealed to the wives of FRSC personnel under the Road Safety Officers’ Wives Association to support their husbands in discharging their duties effectively and safeguarding lives.