Ember months: FRSC flags off operation panther in FCT to promote safe driving

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has concluded plan to flag off a special patrol, code named Operation PANTHER II aimed at checkmating driving against traffic in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)and Niger State.

Operation Panther II which commences Monday, September 14, 2020, is part of FRSC strategies to promote safe driving during the ember months.

The Zonal Commanding Officer, Zone 7 HQ Abuja, comprising the FCT and Niger Sector Commands, ACM Jonas Agwu, in a statement on Sunday explained: “Operation PANTHER II, is in response to the concern raised by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Honorable Minister Mohammed Bello about the spate of traffic violation in FCT.”

Agwu had charged the Zonal Commanding Officer during a courtesy visit last week, to address the increasing spate of route violation along the airport road especially at Lugbe perpetuated mostly by Commercial Motorcycles (OKADA) operators and commercial taxi drivers.

“Operation Panther II” is also aimed at checkmating increasing reckless driving in the FCT, route violation  as well as lane indiscipline which are contraventions of the provisions of the National Road Traffic Regulations (NRTR) 2012, Specifically, Section 161 (3) states that ‘’the driver of a vehicle on a public road divided into traffic lanes by appropriate road traffic signs shall not turn from one lane into or cross another lane unless he can do so without obstructing or endangering other road users,’ he said.

Adding that violators of this provisions stand the risk of conviction contained in Section 161 (5) of the law.

The section provides ‘’that any person who contravenes any of the provisions of this Regulation commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine of #3000, 00 in addition to any other penalty imposed under any extant law or regulations’’. Also, Section 21 (1) of the FRSC Establishment Act, 2007 states that ‘’a person who drives a motor vehicle on a highway dangerously or recklessly shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction of a fine of fifty thousand naira or to imprisonment or a term not exceeding two years or to both such fine and imprisonment’’.

‘’Operation Panther II will equally focus on addressing unlicensed Drivers in the FCT and Niger, in addition to obstructions and lane indiscipline’’ which is described as common among drivers in the FCT as well as failure of drivers to adequately ‘move over’ and constitute route violation, ACM Jonas Agwu noted.

The Zonal Commanding Officer RS7HQ, “appealed for the support and cooperation of motorists in Abuja, urging them to promote safe driving this ember month”.