The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has announced a partnership with the Ogun State Government to form a joint task force aimed at tackling the illegal parking of articulated trucks along highways in the state.
Speaking during a stakeholder meeting with transportation unions in Abeokuta on Wednesday, Ogun State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Akinwunmi Fashakin, said the initiative seeks to reduce traffic congestion and road accidents caused by indiscriminate parking of heavy-duty vehicles.
Fashakin noted that the rise in industrial activities across the state has led to a sharp increase in truck traffic, contributing to frequent crashes and gridlocks. He emphasized the need for strategic interventions, including continued engagement and awareness campaigns targeting truck drivers, commercial drivers, and operators in the mining and quarry sectors.
To ensure effective enforcement, Fashakin revealed that a joint task force is being proposed, comprising the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the police, and the FRSC. The task force will focus on removing illegally parked trailers in areas such as Ogere, Interchange, and other key sections of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
He added that companies in affected zones have been notified to provide proper parking facilities for their trucks.
The sector commander also highlighted the role of unlicensed, underage, and inexperienced drivers in causing accidents, noting that some use their vehicle size to intimidate smaller road users, which he described as unacceptable.
Reacting to the initiative, Monsuru Owokade, Vice Chairman of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Abeokuta branch, praised the FRSC’s efforts and affirmed that the union regularly educates drivers on safe driving habits, including the avoidance of alcohol consumption.
Fata Diyaolu, a representative of the Ogun State Trailer Drivers Association, also commended the programme and encouraged the FRSC to continue its sensitisation efforts.