NEWS
2027 Campaigns: FRSC Bars Officers From Political Convoys, Escort Duties
2027 Campaigns: FRSC Bars Officers From Political Convoys, Escort Duties
FRSC has barred its officers from leading political convoys or providing escort services to politicians during campaigns for the 2027 general elections.
The Corps prohibited the use of patrol vehicles and sirens for political activities and private engagements, including weddings and funeral processions.
Officers deployed to campaign venues must restrict their duties to traffic management, with emphasis on preventing congestion and road crashes.
FRSC also warned personnel against extortion, corruption and other misconduct, insisting that officers must remain professional and accountable during operations.
October 22, () – The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has barred its personnel from leading political convoys or providing escort services to politicians during campaigns for the 2027 general elections.
The directive also prohibits the use of FRSC patrol vehicles and sirens for political activities, as the Corps moves to restrict the deployment of its personnel and operational assets to authorised road safety duties.
Zonal Commanding Officer, RS6, Assistant Corps Marshal (ACM) Abimbola Owolabi, issued the directive during her maiden visit to the Cross River State Command in Calabar on Wednesday.
Every second brings Nigerians closer to exercising their democratic right and shaping the future of our nation.
Exercise your democratic right responsibly, peacefully and lawfully.
Owolabi warned personnel against leading political convoys or providing escorts for politicians, stressing that official vehicles must not be deployed for unauthorised purposes.
“Patrol vehicles and sirens must not be used for political activities or private engagements, including weddings and funeral processions,” she said.
Channel
She, however, clarified that FRSC personnel could be deployed to campaign venues for traffic management and road safety duties.
According to her, “officers deployed to campaign venues must focus exclusively on traffic management to prevent congestion and road crashes.”
The directive effectively limits the role of FRSC personnel at political campaigns to controlling traffic, ensuring the free flow of vehicles and reducing the risk of road crashes, rather than accompanying politicians or becoming part of campaign convoys.
Owolabi also directed officers to intensify public enlightenment on road safety, noting that sustained awareness campaigns could help reduce crashes and support efforts towards achieving zero fatalities on the nation’s roads.
She warned personnel against extortion, corruption and other forms of unprofessional conduct, saying such behaviour could undermine public confidence in the Corps.
“Misconduct by patrol operators and other personnel undermines public confidence in the Corps. Officers must be extremely accountable across operational units”, she said.
The Zonal Commander further advised officers to prioritise their safety during enforcement operations and avoid unnecessary confrontations with motorists that could result in assaults, injuries or damage to their uniforms.
She urged personnel to exercise professionalism and discretion when dealing with motorists, particularly in volatile situations that could escalate into violence.
Owolabi also called for stronger partnerships with private operators to ensure that broken-down vehicles are promptly removed from highways and other obstructions capable of disrupting traffic are quickly cleared.
She stressed the need for prompt emergency response, effective rescue operations and intensified patrols to reduce road crashes and fatalities.
“I urge FRSC personnel to maintain high standards of service delivery, process official correspondence carefully and ensure requests for operational support are properly documented”, she said.
Owolabi also encouraged officers to prioritise their health and make use of the National Health Insurance Scheme, noting that good health remained essential to effective service delivery.
She appealed to members of the Road Safety Officers’ Wives Association (ROSOWA) to support their husbands in effectively discharging their responsibilities and safeguarding lives on Nigerian roads.
Background
The directive comes as Nigeria moves closer to the 2027 general elections, with political parties and candidates intensifying preparations for campaigns, rallies and other election-related activities across the country.
Political campaigns in Nigeria are frequently accompanied by large motorcades involving candidates, party officials and supporters, particularly during rallies and campaign tours. The movement of such convoys can increase pressure on major roads and create traffic congestion around campaign venues.
The FRSC is responsible for road safety administration, traffic management, crash prevention and rescue operations on the nation’s highways and is routinely deployed to manage traffic during major public events.
The latest directive draws a clear line between the Corps’ road safety responsibilities and political escort duties ahead of the 2027 campaigns.
Under the directive, FRSC personnel may be deployed to political campaign venues to manage traffic and prevent road crashes, but they are barred from leading political convoys, providing escort services to politicians or deploying official patrol vehicles and sirens for political activities.
DO YOU WANT TO WHISTLEBLOW, REPORT FRAUD, THEFT OR INJUSTICE OR INTIMIDATION? SEND US YOUR STORY/REPORT TO NEWSDESK@MEDIATODAY.NG
