From Nweke Nweke, Onitsha
The purpose of establishing Federal Roads Safety Corps, FRSC by the federal government was to save lives and property of the citizenry applying federal highways and at the same time, generate funds into the coffers of the federal government for the nation through bookings of drives that flouts orders predetermined for highways’ users.
From its inception as it is to other government uniformed outfits, Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC demonstrated as if they were angels from heaven when they came on board whom never had corruption in them.
Today, the expectation of the government and Nigerians has turned out to be negative as Federal Road Safety Corps; FRSC has upturned and become Deborah that devours virtually every road users in Anambra State.
Yes, they are now worse than all other uniformed organizations in Nigeria. Worst of it all is that virtually all the Unit Commanders in the Southeast States do send their staff on the road with directives to scientifically defraud unsuspecting members of the public.
Research conducted on the activities of Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC by 247ureports.com has revealed that this ugly method was designed for the field workers by their senior officers in the office, all aimed at remitting monetary feed back to the office on daily bases.
Painful of it all is that Anambra State, (the home state of the Corps Marshal, Chief Osita Chidoka) is said to be the worst hit without any regard that the officers of the corps serving in the state ought to have noted that they should be spotless in all the duties of Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC in honour of the Corps Marshal.
If the truth must be told in love, it is patient for one to state it clear that the dirty job(s) done on our federal highways by the men of Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC are the scripts written for them by their superiors in the office.
As if ill-gratification is enshrined in the constitution of the land, the Chidoka’s men now swims on corruption in all their check points, therefore exchanging checking of vehicles between two and five hundred Naira per driver that is caught.
They bribe takers under the cover of Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC never at their place of work, wear human face just to intimidate commuters and defraud them under impunity.
Disclosure have been made on the secret agreement reached with drivers loading in different motor parks at Onitsha, Awka, Nnewi, Ihiala, Ekwluobia and other part of Anambra state (the home state of the corps marshal) between Heads of the Operation in each unit command on how much are to be paid on daily bases to avoid been booked at the federal highways.
It was also discovered that plan cloths employee of Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC is stationed in each of the motor park for the collection of ‘office feed back’ with little note issued to the driver after payment. The note stands as pass at FRSC check points in the State.
In Anambra State, there is Onitsha Unit Command, Ihiala, Oyi, with Awka housing the Sector Command. Men of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC Onitsha Unit Command headed by Mr. Anthony Metta is accused to have designed a method of collecting gratifications from the drivers at several motor parks in the commercial city.
The action has also made it hard for them to contravene overload offenders at Niger Bridge, which is at the front of their office, therefore proving Bible illustration right, which states that bribery makes one to be blind.
In an alleged covenant with the managers of motor parks and that of office of FRSC in Onitsha, Awka, Nnewi, Ihiala, Ekwulobia among others, it was gathered that the drivers who refused to pat on the illegality allegedly introduced by the headship of FRSC are contravened on the federal highways for having flouted the ‘gentlemen’ agreement.
At Oba junction, Idemili South Local Government Area of the State, what Onitsha Unit Command, Mr. Anthony Metta confirmed as Federal Road Safety Corps 3rd party is always stationed a pole to the check point as the function of the 3rd party man was to collect bribe from overload drivers and signal his men at the check point over the compliance of his victim.
The same method occurs at Ziks Roundabout, Niger Bridgehead all in Onitsha, Nteje in Oyi council Area, Okija and Total Filling Station bus stop in Ihiala Local Government Area, Ekwulobia in Aguata council area and all other check points of FRSC across the state.
Commenting on the ugly development, a driver who gave his name as Sunday Ekuma decried over the attitude of the men of the road safety corps, accusing Ihiala Unit Command as the worst among other unit Commands in the state.
Mr. Ekuma said the FRSC officers send to redirect drivers at Okija bridge following the fire that gutted the bridge recently has turned the spot they are as a bribe speck, calling on the authorities of FRSC to reform their men.
Efforts made to reach the State Sector Commander, Mr. H.U Omeje for comment hit at the rock even as calls made across to him through his GSM never went through due to the inconsistence of the network.
