The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Kaduna State Sector Command, has launched a decisive crackdown against the dangerous practice of mixed loading, following firm directives from the Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed.
The operation, led by the Sector Commander, CC Tijani Iliyasu, resulted in the interception and apprehension of multiple articulated vehicles found conveying a hazardous combination of over 100 humans beings, animals, and goods along critical corridors during the ongoing Easter Special Patrol.
The Corps Spokesperson, Osondu Ohaeri, in a statement on Monday, said the Corps Marshal, at whose instance the nationwide enforcement was activated, described mixed loading as a ticking time bomb on Nigerian highways, an egregious violation that converts vehicles into rolling death traps.
He stressed that in the event of a crash, occupants are exposed to grave danger, including being crushed by shifting cargo or injured by livestock, drastically reducing chances of survival.
Additionally, beyond the immediate threat to lives, the practice compromises vehicle stability, weakens braking control, and significantly heightens the risk of fatal road traffic crashes across the country.
Expectedly, he maintained that the ongoing operation is a clear demonstration of the Corps’ zero-tolerance stance against all forms of traffic violations that endanger public safety.
Operators and drivers nationwide have been strongly warned to desist from mixed loading and other dangerous practices or face stiff sanctions, including arrest and prosecution.
The Corps Marshal further called on all road users to embrace responsible driving habits, especially during the Easter period marked by increased vehicular movement nationwide.
The Federal Road Safety Corps reassures of its commitment to the protection of lives and property on all Nigerian roads through sustained nationwide enforcement, intelligence-driven patrols, and aggressive public enlightenment campaigns.
As such, all stakeholders and members of the public are urged to support ongoing efforts by complying with traffic regulations, reminding ourselves that safety on the highways is a collective responsibility that must not be compromised.
