Igbo Radio

By Izunna Okafor, Awka

The Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Anambra State, CC Joyce Alexander, has reaffirmed her commitment to working closely with the media to enhance road safety awareness and improve service delivery.

CC Alexander made the assertion on Thursday in Awka while addressing journalists at the Secretariat Complex of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Anambra State Council, shortly after a training program organized by the FRSC for journalists earlier in the day.

The Sector Commander, who described the media as a critical partner in the FRSC’s operations, emphasized that her long-standing experience in the Corps’ media department had shaped her appreciation for the role of journalists in public enlightenment and accountability. She noted that the FRSC often faces criticism and misinformation from the public, making media collaboration essential for transparency and effective communication.

“I value the media so much because I have worked in the media department of FRSC for many years. From the moment I joined the Corps, up until I grew into other sections, I was actively involved in media work. That experience taught me that in an organization like FRSC, where we receive different forms of criticism, public hostility, and misinformation, the media becomes indispensable,” she said.

Further highlighting the importance of media engagement, the Sector Commander acknowledged that FRSC personnel cannot be physically present in every location at all times due to manpower limitations. She, therefore, described journalists as crucial allies who help bridge gaps by reporting incidents, disseminating safety information, and correcting false narratives.

“We cannot be everywhere at the same time. So how do we close the gap? We need the media. The media will speak for us. Sometimes, I may not even be aware of an incident until a journalist calls my attention to it. And with today’s online reporting, information spreads globally in seconds. The media makes my job easier, and that is why I will always work with them,” she added.

Speaking on the FRSC’s mandate in Anambra State, CC Alexander revealed that upon her arrival in the state, she discovered that certain key traffic regulations were not being fully enforced, including compliance with speed limit devices, proper documentation of passenger manifests, and penalties for route violations such as one-way driving, among others. She recounted her ongoing efforts and expressed her determination to strengthen enforcement and public awareness in these areas, stressing that they were crucial to reducing road accidents.

CC Alexander reaffirmed the FRSC's commitment to minimizing accidents across Anambra State. She outlined the Corps’ goal of achieving a 10% reduction in crashes by 2025, in line with the United Nations’ target of a 50% reduction by 2030.

“Crashes will always occur, but our job is to ensure that they are reduced to the barest minimum —to the very minimal level. If we achieve a 10% reduction this year as we target and continue at that rate, we will be on track to meet the UN’s 2030 goal of 50% reduction,” she stated.

She also provided insights into how FRSC categorizes road crashes based on severity. According to her, crashes are classified as Minor (when there is only vehicle or infrastructure damage with no injuries), Serious (when there are injuries but no fatalities), or Fatal (when there is a loss of life). She further emphasized the importance of timely crash reporting, as it helps emergency responders take swift action.

The Sector Commander also addressed concerns surrounding driver’s license issuance in the state. According to her, the era of obtaining driver’s licenses by proxy is over, as all applicants must now appear in person to have their biometrics captured. She urged applicants to visit designated Drivers’ License Centers rather than approaching unauthorized agents or besieging her office.

“In Anambra, one of our main Drivers’ License Centers is near Cheleku Hotel at Amawbia. There are also other centers across the state. My office is not a Drivers’ License Center, so I advise everyone to go to the appropriate centres,” she stated.

Similarly, she also shed light on challenges related to vehicle number plate registration and data upload. She explained that while FRSC produces number plates based on state and local government requests, the responsibility for uploading vehicle owner details into the National Vehicle Identification Scheme (NVIS) lies with the states.

“When number plates are issued, the state government is supposed to upload the details of the vehicle owner—including name, address, and phone number—into the FRSC database. However, we have discovered that in many cases, the plates are validly issued but not uploaded, making it difficult to trace the owners when necessary,” she explained.

She stressed that the FRSC maintains a robust database that security agencies often rely on for investigations. However, the failure of some states to upload vehicle details creates gaps in tracking vehicle ownership, a challenge that she urged relevant authorities to address promptly.

While expressing gratitude to journalists for their support, CC Alexander urged them to reach out to her for clarifications on road safety matters rather than relying on assumptions or misinformation, which will also result to misinforming the public.

Also speaking, the Chief Route Commander in charge of Operations, CRC E. Oguadimma, joined his voice to call for stronger media collaboration with the FRSC in its roles of crash reduction and public awareness.

Earlier during the training, the Sector Training Officer, DCC Caroline Adaora Oliseh, who delivered a lecture titled “Causes of Road Traffic Crashes”, highlighted the various factors that cause and contribute to road traffic crashes, while also emphasizing the importance of conducting daily vehicle checks, which she termed a “morning parade,” as one of the simple but effective strategies to prevent road crashes.

In a vote of thanks, the State Chairman of NUJ, Dr. Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, commended the FRSC for organizing the training program for journalists and reaffirmed the union’s commitment to supporting road safety initiatives in Anambra State. He further assured of stronger collaboration between the media and the FRSC in ensuring safer roads and improving public awareness of traffic regulations in Anambra State.