FRSC Deploys 2,500 Personnel, 50 Vehicles for Osun Poll

The Federal Road Safety Corps has deployed 2,500 personnel and 50 operational vehicles across Osun State ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.

The deployment, covering the state’s three senatorial districts and all operational areas, is aimed at managing traffic, responding to emergencies, clearing road obstructions and enforcing the restriction of movement during the election.

The FRSC disclosed this in a statement signed by its Deputy Corps Commander and Corps Public Education Officer, Osondu Ohaeri, on Friday.

According to the Corps, 2,300 personnel were drawn from the Osun Sector Command, while 50 personnel each were deployed from the Ondo, Ekiti, Oyo and Ogun sector commands.

The operational fleet includes seven heavy-duty tow trucks and six ambulances positioned at strategic locations to support rescue operations and emergency response.

The Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the deployment was part of the agency’s statutory responsibility to support a peaceful, safe and credible electoral process.

He said FRSC personnel would ensure that roads remained safe, orderly and accessible while working within the wider electoral security arrangements.

Mohammed assured that the personnel would operate with professionalism, neutrality, discipline and respect for human rights while collaborating with the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security and other relevant agencies.

The Corps also said it would inspect and certify vehicles provided by fleet operators for transporting electoral materials, ensuring that they meet required safety standards and are roadworthy.

As part of preparations, the FRSC disclosed plans for a Train-the-Trainer workshop involving personnel from the FRSC, Nigeria Police Force, Independent National Electoral Commission, Department of State Services and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

The workshop is expected to strengthen the capacity of officers deployed for the election.

On the movement restriction, the Corps said it would strictly enforce the order within designated areas during the election.

Vehicles assigned to enforcement operations will begin deployment from 6:00am on Saturday, August 15, with personnel stationed at strategic points across the state.

The FRSC urged motorists, transport operators and other road users to plan their journeys ahead of the election, obey lawful traffic directives and avoid restricted routes.

It said its personnel would conduct traffic control, crowd management, obstruction clearance and rescue operations before, during and after the election.

Operatives would also be stationed at designated polling locations in collaboration with other security agencies while remaining within their statutory responsibilities.

The Corps directed all election-duty personnel to maintain neutrality and respect the rights and dignity of citizens irrespective of political affiliation, gender or religion.