Operation Zero: FRSC begins simulation exercise on Bauchi roads

The Bauchi State Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Tuesday conducted a simulation exercise, this is part of its preparation for its end of the year special operation, “Operation Zero”, in other to ensure accident free Yuletide celebrations.

Speaking during the simulation exercise, the Bauchi State Commander, Yusuf Abdullahi, said that the simulation exercise was a means to test run all the available equipment to be deployed by FRSC in its operation during the Yuletide.

According to Abdullahi, the command was fully prepared for “Operation Zero”, which he said involved traffic control, rescue operations, clearing of obstructions as well as massive public enlightenment, among others.

The sector commander informed that some of the markets located on highways in the state would be taken off the roads, saying that the Corps had been working closely with stakeholders in those markets to ensure total compliance.

Abdullahi informed that the command was in collaboration with the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) in taking care of potholes on the highways in the state.

“With what we have put in place, we are not going to have a problem, we will have a free and safe Yuletide period,” he assured.

Also speaking, the Zonal Commanding Officer in charge of Zone 12, Assistant Corps Marshal Rotimi Adeleye, disclosed that the exercise was a way of showing the Corps’ preparedness for ” Operation Zero”.

According to Adeleye, the simulation exercise was a way to alert the motoring public in the state to know that FRSC was effectively ready for its end of the year operation, in collaboration with other sister agencies.

“All the logistics which includes trucks, ambulances, patrol vehicles and personnel would be deployed across the state to ensure that we have a free traffic flow and zero crashes on our highways,” Adeleye, who is in charge of Bauchi, Yobe and Borno states, disclosed.

While lamenting that the more roads are good, the more motorists engage in overspeeding, leading to more accidents, he assured that the Corps would not only continue to embark on massive public enlightenment in all parts of the state but also extend its closing hours so as to respond to emergencies.

The zonal commanding officer then appealed to the public to always make use of the Corps’ toll free number 122 whenever there are accidents, saying that, “our rescue team is always ready to get to the scene any time we are called.”

Highlights of the simulation exercise were demonstration of rescue operations, display of ambulances, patrol vans, personnel as well as stop and search operations by Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Federal Road Safety Corps is the Government Agency with statutory responsibilities for road safety administration in Nigeria, it was founded in 1988.