FRSC denies requesting FG’s permission to bear firearms

Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has denied viral reports credited to its Corps Marshal, Dauda Ali Biu requesting the Federal Government to allow its personnel bear arms.

The FRSC in a statement via its official X handle (@FRSCNigeria) and signed by the Corps Public Education Officer, Bisi Kazeem, Sunday, described the report as ‘erroneous.’

A report which has now gone viral had quoted a representative of the Corps Marshal, Dauda Ali Biu, as making the request during the Passing Out Parade of Cadets at the Nigerian Army Training Centre (NATRAC) in Kotangora, Niger State.

Reacting to the report, in a statement titled; ‘RE – INSECURITY:FRSC SEEKS FG’s PERMISSION TO BEAR ARMS,’ the FRSC stated that the statement credited to the representative of the Corps Marshal ‘does not reflect the current position of the Corps Marshal and the management team,’ as it advised the public should to ‘take note.’

“The attention of the FRSC has just been drawn to a report that the Corps Marshal is seeking the permission of the Federal Government for the personnel of the Corps to bear arms.

“The said erroneous statement credited to the representative of the Corps Marshal at the Passing Out Parade of Cadets at the Nigerian Army Training Centre (NATRAC), in Kotangora, Niger State, does not reflect the current position of the Corps Marshal and the management team.

“Members of the public should therefore take note,” the commission said.

Meanwhile, Nigerians have taken to the social media platform of X (formerly Twitter) to either register their agreement or otherwise with the position of the FRSC on carrying of arms during operations.

Reacting, former senator representing Kaduna Central at the National Assembly, Mallam Shehu Sani, threw his weight behind the commission’s personnel bearing arms.

Posting via his X handle, (@ShehuSani) Senator Sani, however, added that it should only be for those on highway patrol duties

“I support that Federal Road Safety Corps should bear arms,but Only for those working on the Federal Highways outside the Cities.”

Other Nigerians also reacted, as they advised the Federal Government to merge the FRSC with the police to allow them bear arms.

Other reactions below as captured by Oracle Today, Sunday.

BIG GOD (@BLOSSOM4GOOD) wrote:

Nigerian army and police bearing arms, what changed?

THE TYPE OF COUNTRY I WANT (@hillaryoo) wrote:

We should not encourage these corps to even stand on the major Expressway.

They should just have point with first aid services & ambulance 🚑 for any emergency.

We need to grow away from stopping & asking for papers or driving licence.

These are archaic way of life.

It must stop

Guy Ahmadi (@GuyAhmadi) wrote:

VIO too needs arms because dragging cars with owners isn’t enough to make them do their work effectively.

Emah Obara (@wealthyemah) wrote:

It is a no no nooooooooo for me, fire arm is not what they used to control traffic.

@promisejos (@adahobehira)

Hope that those of us with expired Driver license that’s turn to reverse will not be shot at after they bear arms?

Road safety Corps should be merged with Nigeria police if they must bear arms.

Let’s get Nigeria back from the injustice judges (@HealTheWorldWi2) wrote:

respect, I disagree with you on this, pls kindly retrieve this, instead of u to advocate for cctv radars in all our roads. their duty is to be in the control room ask them how many vehicles testing centers have they established to check those vehicles that are good to ply our roads?

Anderson Idoko (@agaba3) wrote:

That’s another trouble you are creating, what are they doing with arms. Is their jobs not to manage motorist. Is not even every police officer that bears arms, that can have police officers attached to them.