The Lagos State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr Hyginus Omeje, on Thursday handed over to Corps Commander Olusegun Ogungbemide, following his redeployment to Abuja.
Omeje, who was recently promoted from the rank of Corps Commander to that of Assistant Corps Marshal (ACM), said at the handover ceremony that he had contributed his quota toward a safer motoring environment in Lagos.
The handover ceremony at the FRSC, Lagos office at Ojodu Berger, Omeje said that Ogungbemide had all it would take to actualise the goals of the organisation in the state.
“Today, I am handing over to you the best Sector Command by FRSC Command assessment rating, having been declared the overall best sector command in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.
“I have no doubt that when the rating for 2019 will be released, we will still retain our number one position.
“Analysis of our operations from 2014 to 2019 shows that we successfully arrested and booked 333,899 offenders that committed 376, 119 traffic offences.
“The command equally stopped and cautioned a total of 25, 454 offenders for various offences,” he said.
According to him, some notable special operations of the corps in the state during his tenure include Operation Restore Sanity meant to checkmate driving against traffic and Operation Show Your Driver’s Licence.
He added that the sector command under his watch carried out war against overloading.
Omeje also said that his administration carried out Operation Scorpion meant to checkmate the excesses of tanker drivers.
On public education, he said, “We have continued to live up to the mandate of the corps in educating the motoring public on the proper use of the highway.”
According to him, the sector command leveraged on media presence and synergy to propagate FRSC ideals.
He said that from between 2015 to 2019, the sector command carried out a total of 12, 040 rallies and educated 136, 235 offenders.
“The department had done creditably well during the period under review. We partnered Lagos State Government in using its mobile courts to prosecute traffic offenders.
“We commenced prosecution of traffic offenders under this arrangement in July and we have prosecuted a total of 894 drivers out of which 765 were convicted and 129 discharged,” he said
On discipline, Omeje, who noted that the command had a total of 360 officers and 786 marshals, said: “We are able to achieve what we could because discipline is our watchword.
” A total of 376 disciplinary cases were handled in RS2.1 and component commands,” he said.
He said that analysis of the cases showed that five officers were dismissed, 23 officers had their appointments terminated, eight had their ranks reduced, eight lost seniority, 25 received reprimand, 16 got warning, while 89 were discharged and acquitted.
“During the period under review – 2015-2019 – a total of 335 surveillance patrol was carried out, leading to 39 arrests. The command equally organised five capacity building workshop during the period,” he said.
He said that the corps in 2019 opened the Ibeju-Lekki and Refinery Unit Command both on Lekki-Epe Expressway, while the Airport Command, which used to be an out-post, was upgraded to full unit, and Wharf Unit Command downgraded to out-post.
“We also opened Costain, Ikotun, Oke-Afor and Abule-Osun out-posts respectively, as a matter of necessity in responding to crash alerts and traffic situations in those places..
In his response, Ogungbemide said that he would build on all the achievements of his predecessor in terms of public education, enforcement, training and capacity to help the command achieve the strategic goal.
The new sector commander, who stated his resolve to ensure discipline among the personnel, called for cooperation and accountability.
“I will not deny the fact that it is going to be a herculean task, we are in for a great expectation to be fulfilled.
“I am a team player, I distaste indiscipline. We will key into the FRSC strategic goal. We must not disappoint the Corps Marshal.
The ceremony was attended by some FRSC unit commanders and sector heads.
The unit commanders and sector heads took turns to eulogise Omeje for discipline, dedication, professionalism and commitment to the corps’ mandates. (NAN)
