The Corps revealed that there was a significant increase in the number of people rescued without injury during the 2018 Easter special patrol exercise. which was given a wider coverage than previous years, when compared to the same period of Easter celebration in 2017.

The Corps Public Education Officer of the FRSC, Bisi Kazeem, stated that 431 people were rescued without injuries in the 2017 Easter special patrol, while 543 were rescued during the 2018 Easter special patrol without injuries, which marks 26 per cent improvement from 2017 record.

However, Kazeem noted that the number of persons rescued with injuries in road traffic crashes during the 2018 Easter celebration period were 528 compared to 475 in 2017, and this marks an increase by 12 per cent.

In the same vein, he mentioned that from the total number of 160 crashes, 38 were fatal compared to 33 in 2017, which represents 15 per cent increase; 94 were serious crashes compared to 89 in 2017, which represents 5.6 per cent increase; and 28 were minor crashes, compared to 25 in 2017, which represents 12 per cent increase.

He added that of the 1,150 persons involved in road traffic crashes during the 2018 Easter celebration period, 247 vehicles were involved compared to 209 in 2017, and 79 persons lost their lives in 2018 compared to 57 in 2017.

He gave the breakdown of vehicles involved in road traffic crashes across the nation as follows: 15 tanker/trailers, 42 trucks, 56 buses, 78 cars, 40 motorcycles, eight Tricycles, six pickups and two animals.

He stressed that the increase in number of road crashes, increase in the number of persons involved and increase in the number of persons killed is due to the reports that emanated from the new FRSC formations.

It will be recalled that Oyeyemi had earlier directed that the 2018 Easter special patrol to cover 39 corridors, which include but not limited to Sokoto-Tambuwal-Jega-Birnin Kebbi; Mokwa-Birnin Yero-Zaria; Maiduguri-Biu-Numan-Jalingo-Wukari; Lafia-Langtang-Pankshin-Jos; Abuja-Lokoja-Okene; Lokoja-Auchi-Benin; Onitsha-Njaba-Owerri-Umuahia, Ibadan-Oyo-Ogbomosho; and Ibadan-Ogere-Shagamu.

In view of the directive of the Corps Marshal, which is a move away from other years where the focus was on critical corridors, Kazeem noted that the Corps intensified its patrol operations and enlightenment campaigns by giving adequate coverage to all 39 routes across Nigeria.

Comparing the Corps’ records for the 2018 Easter special patrol with 2017, a total of 5,836 offenders were apprehended in 2018 compared to 7,361 in 2017; a total of 6,551 offences were recorded in 2018 compared to 8,896 in 2017; and a total of 3,085 impoundments were made compared to 3,500 in 2017.

The Corps also revealed that with respect to Mobile Court sittings that was spread across Nigeria during this period, a total of 337 persons were arraigned in 2018 Easter Special patrol compared to 399 persons in 2017; 318 offenders were convicted in 2018 compared to 379 in 2017; and 16 persons discharged and acquitted in 2018 compared to 17 in 2017.

Further to this, Kazeem disclosed that in 2018, enlightenment through motor park rallies increased by 4.81 per cent in 2018, and radio programmes increased by 25.78 per cent in 2018.

Kazeem noted that the positive changes in the reduction of offences and offenders, impoundments and arraignments captured above is attributable to increase in public enlightenment, enforcement, traffic control, cooperation from stakeholders, and the fully automated process of obtaining Drivers Licence, which ensures that motorists must be trained in Driving Schools before they are qualified to apply for their licences