FRSC decorates six honorary special marshals
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and its volunteer arm, the Special Marshals, have decorated six Distinguished Honourary Special Marshals in Kwara.
The decoration took place at the 2022 RS8 Zonal Conference of Special Marshals in Ilorin on Tuesday.
Earlier, the Special Marshal Zonal Coordinator RS.8, Mr Mike Atoyebi, welcomed the participants and appreciated God for sparing their lives to witness the event.
Atoyebi said that the conference was themed, “The Role of the Special Marshals in the face of the New Administration in the Corps,” with emphasis on the “Challenging Security Situation in the Country.”
He noted that special marshals faced various security challenges in the course of their official activities.
“We have lost many special and regular marshals in this regard. May their souls rest in perfect peace.
“The theme and the sub-theme is to enhance our performance in the course of our duties,” Atoyebi said.
The Zonal Commanding Officer of FRSC RS8, ACM Hyginus Omeje, said that the biannual conference was held to gather special marshals in the zone to take stock and evaluate their performances with a view to identifying their strengths, weaknesses and opportunities for improving their mode of operations.
“It gives me pleasure to welcome everybody seated here who have left all their assignments to grace this occasion as a demonstration of your love to the Corps and dedication to service to our country, Nigeria.
“Let me specially appreciate the Ag. Corps Marshal for approving this year’s Zonal Special Marshals Conference.
“Today, the corps has a total of 16,564 special marshals making us the number one Para-Military agency with the largest and best example of volunteerism.
“On the other hand, the zone has a total of 2,053 special marshals, thus accounting for 12.3 per cent of the national figure according to FRSC Annual Report 2021.
“The theme for this year’s conference provides opportunity for us to take a second look at the special marshals operation with a view to redefining it for the safety and security of our special marshals.
“This conference must therefore come up with operational modalities that will still see the special marshals provide the much needed service of saving lives on our roads without losing their own life,” he said.
Omeje therefore tasked the special marshals to leverage on technology in order to get their job done.
“I will not end this address without thanking our special guest of honour, the Deputy Governor of Kwara, Mr Kayode Alabi, for making out time to grace this occasion.
“My sincere thanks also goes to our awardees who have over the years supported the corps with their resources even without being special marshals.
“Now that we are inducting you as our Distinguished Honorary Special Marshals, we expect you to do more for the corps and Nigeria at large,” he said.
The Ag. Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Mr Dauda Ali-Biu, who was represented by the Corps Commander, Mrs Comfort Asom, commended the special marshals for planning the zonal conference as the Lead Agency in Traffic Administration and Safety Management in Nigeria.
Ali-Biu noted that the corps volunteer arm had helped in guaranteeing safer roads for Nigerians.
“However, there is still work to be done, as the fatalities on our roads have not abated.
“Due to the special marshals’ voluntary obligations to the corps and the expectations to perform their duties in a manner that is consistent with the corporate strategic goals of the corps, it is crucial that you tighten your belts and push yourselves to reach greater heights into supporting the current administration.
“Since its creation, the corps has had seven separate administrations, each of which built on the previous one’s work to make the organisation what it is today; a world class organisation,” he said.
He also enjoined the special marshals to focus on supporting Road Safety Club activities, research, sponsoring programmes and campaigns, and conducting patrol operations.
“We have gathered here to assess ourselves, re-strategise on the activities of the previous years, and plan a route for the future.
“Nonetheless, we must continue to work towards better solutions to the increasing difficulties in road traffic management.
“The FRSC is a non-partisan organisation, but I urge special marshals who are politicians and who are interested in running for office to do so on their own and not to use the FRSC platform for the advancement of their political careers,” Ali-Biu advised.
He said the corps must continue to be impartial and available to assist the public in the free flow of traffic always.
The acting corps marshal said that road safety research must also be actively pursued, and recommendations for ways to lower Road Traffic Crash (RTC) and serious injuries must be made.
The state Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Mr Saifudeen Aliyu, who represented the deputy governor, Mr Kayode Alabi, said that patrol enforcement must be sustained.
Alabi tasked the FRSC on inter-agency collaboration in order to ensure road safety on the roads especially during the ‘ember’ months and the electioneering period.
He commended the special marshals for their dedication and passion for road safety, while appreciating Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for ensuring the construction of good roads across the state.
Highlights of the event was the presentation of awards to the six ‘Distinguished Honorary Special Marshals’ by the corps.
The awardees included the Board Chairman of Somewatt Fresh Hotel, Dr Kayode Ayantoye; Managing Director, Peace Pharmaceutical Industry Ltd, Dr Samuel Akinlaja; CMD, Afe Babalola University Multi-system Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, Dr Kolawole Ogundipe; Chief Executive Officer, Item7 Industry, Mr Victor Ajayi; Mr Balogun Simeon, a businessman, and Mr Emmanuel Abidoye, the CEO of FEMTECH Information Technology Ltd.
Responding on behalf of the awardees, Dr Kayode Ayantoye, appreciated the FRSC for their commitment to road safety in the state and the nation at large.
Ayantoye however urged the corps to continue to do more in its capacity to ensure protection on the roads and zero crashes on the highways.
He appreciated the honour given them, while assuring the corps of more cooperation, support and collaboration.
In his vote of thanks, the Kwara Coordinator, Special Marshals, Mr Adetayo Adefolaju, appreciated the participants and stakeholders for their support at making the conference a success.
Adefolaju also commended the FRSC for continued drive at ensuring road safety in the country.
The FRSC RS8 Zonal Command oversees Kwara, Kogi and Ekiti States.
In attendance at the event were the Sector Commanders of Kw ara, Kogi and Ekiti states and representative of the Commissioner of Police, among other dignitaries.
