The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has directed its Commanding Officers to step up nationwide enforcement against the overloading of vehicles and night trips.
The corps also said it would engage stakeholders to educate them on the dangers inherent in the acts.
The FRSC Corps Marshal, Dauda Ali-Biu gave the directive in a statement signed by the Corps Public Education Officer, Assistant Corps Marshal, Jonas Agwu, yesterday in Abuja.
Ali-Biu said the two crashes on Monday that led to the death of 17 people reinforced the need for the FRSC to go after drivers involved in speeding, overloading, and night trips.
The two crashes occurred at Tashar Yari village, along the Zaria-Kano Expressway in Kaduna State, and near the Fire Service Academy, along the Yangoji-Gwagwalada expressway in the FCT.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Tashan Yari village crash which occurred at 07:36am, involved a trailer overloaded with grains and 40 passengers sitting atop the goods.
The trailer, with registration number KTG 454 ZZ, was on a night trip from Azare when it crashed due to wrong overtaking, driving against the legal speed limit, and overloading.
Out of the 40 passengers, 12 were killed, while 28 who sustained different levels of injuries were evacuated to Makarfi General Hospital.
The accident along the Yangoji-Gwagwalada expressway occurred at about 04:35am when a speeding J5 bus on a night trip rammed into a stationery trailer and exploded into flames.
Five victims were burnt beyond recognition.
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Ali-Biu decried the rate of road crashes that occur as a result of night trips, overloading, and flagrant violations of legal speed limits.
He highlighted some of the dangers associated with night trips including poor visibility, fatigue, speed, and delayed post-crash response.
“Given the need to address this menace, I have directed commanding officers to step up enforcement, engage all stakeholders, and ensure adequate advocacy,” he added.
In another development, the corps marshal has decorated the newly appointed Deputy Corps Marshal representing the North East, Muhammed Kabo.
Ali-Biu also decorated the six Assistant Corps Marshals elevated in the just concluded 2023 promotion exercise.
