By Abdul Jelil Adebayo
This is an interesting time and everything seems to be interesting. It is because of this that anybody can write anything without knowing the fact of a matter and will be speaking authoritatively on a matter he is least qualified to talk about.
Or else how can one place the write up by one Olufemi Lawson in Alimosho, Lagos talking about his pain in getting his driver’s license renewed.
Because of the “trauma” he claimed to be undergoing in obtaining new one, the FRSC should therefore be dismantled.
Will one not be right to say he is ignorant of the working system of the Corps?
There is therefore need to correct his ignorance and misleading opinion about Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC.
Whenever one wants to criticize or condemn something, one needs to put on the thinking cap so that one doesn’t exhibit folly in the public domains.
Is his submission of pains he claimed to be going through, does that justified his call for the sack of the leadership of the Corps?
Is this justifiable, or simply put, is this cry in the wilderness not out of malice. It is advisable most often not to always throw the bath water and the baby away.
Though the glitches experienced is highly regrettable and receiving attention but the attitude of Nigerians in condemning an Agency for a little minus and negating the good and risks they take on daily basis is not encouraging.
Just close your eyes and imagine that FRSC is not operating on Nigeria roads today. Your guess is as good as mine. The problems of Driver’s license will come and go but the damage the bashings would have done to the psyche of these committed Nigerians would be more damaging.
It is easy to tear his perception about the Corps into shreds without much ado. Let’s go.
Hear him: it is time to dismantle the FRSC because according to him, he couldn’t get his driver’s license. Not so now.
Is this enough to rubbish the achievements of 38 years of an institution that have taken Nigeria to a global reckoning, reduced the fatality rate from 42, 000 annually in 1988 to less than 6,000 annually despite the astronomical growth in economy, population and vehicular movements.
The Corps that has successfully mastered the act of promptly removing obstructions on our roads to avert further crashes and create traffic flow should be disbanded?
FRSC prompt response to road traffic crashes that have saved thousands of lives which are being testified to and further dignified the dead by not allowing them to litter Nigerian roads without identity, should be commended not vilified.
It is without doubt that FRSC has perfectly managed motor vehicle administration of the nation via her robust data base which has assisted in safety and security.
Without doubt, the enforcement of safety on the roads has improved tremendously nationwide.
Lawson claimed to have been driving around with “ridiculous pieces of papers given to me for over one year of applying for the RENEWAL of my License.” Hmmm.
When he talked about the dismantling of the age long mystery behind obtaining Nigeria’s Passport, from the Nigeria Immigration Service, little did he know that the process was more than six years, which invariably predated the current Interior Minister. But for those who don’t know the workings of government, this was done just few months into the present administration.
He claimed that the Corps has reduced itself to a revenue generating task force ambushing commuters, across the roads in Nigeria.
At least the Corps is not idling away, it is generating funds into government coffers.
He needs to be told that the Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed has accepted that there were issues regarding the issuance of driver’s license even before he assumed duties last year.
According to the Corps Assistant Corps Marshal, ACM Olusegun Ogungbemide , the Corps Public Enlightenment Officer, CPEO, the Corps’ helmsman is assiduously fixing the problem of the driver’s license.
He admitted that this could not be done in a hurry due to its legal implications and security undertone, “but sooner than later the clog would be sorted out,” he promised.
He explained that the Corps Marshal appreciated the pains of the citizens both within and the diaspora. “We are almost there. And certainly it will be even better,” he reassured.
The Corps Marshal has promised and from his body language, the Corps is on a transformational trail.
The FRSC today has been transformed into a government agency that has taken road safety beyond the shores of Nigeria and even across the West African Coast to continental spheres.
Kudos to the amiable but workaholic Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed, who is determined to change the narrative for the good of the motoring public and Nigeria as a whole.
The agency is wearing new look, courteous personnel on the roads and impressive constant and regular trainings for its personnel; and to cap it up, welfare of staff for greater output has taken a turn for the good. Thanks to the management of FRSC.
*Abdul wrote in from Abuja via abduljelil2001@gmail.com