Nigerians don dey reject the bill wey want make Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) officers carry guns. According to *Sunday PUNCH*, many Nigerians no dey support this idea because dem believe say it go endanger the lives of drivers, passengers, and other road users.
The House of Representatives pass the bill for second reading on October 10, 2024. The bill, wey be jointly sponsored by Abiodun Adesida from Ondo and Olaide Lateef from Oyo, aim to amend the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Act 2007 to enhance the agency’s operations. However, many people no dey agree with this move.
In an online poll conducted by *Sunday PUNCH*, most respondents reject the bill. The President of the Joint Drivers Association of Nigeria, Akintade Abiodun, urge the House of Representatives to drop the bill in the interest of public safety. He say, “We disagree with the bill, and it should be dropped. What do road safety officers need guns for? We have been obeying them without guns, so there is no need for them to be armed.”
Other critics like Kasali Ajisafe, Secretary of the Park Management System in Oyo State, and Anthony Adejuwon, Team Lead of Urban Alert, also condemn the bill. Adejuwon say, “FRSC officials have been tormenting and threatening road users even without guns. If they are armed, they may become uncontrollable and could wreak havoc, similar to the police brutality being recorded across Nigeria.”
However, not everyone dey against the bill. Steve Aluko, Executive Director of the Civil Liberty Organisation (Northern Region), argue say there is nothing wrong with FRSC officers bearing arms as long as proper mechanisms are put in place to prevent abuses.
