The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says it will sanction and prosecute fleet operators who violate safety standards across the country.
Dauda Biu, FRSC corps marshal, spoke in Abuja on Thursday during the 2023 annual safety managers retreat.
Biu, who was represented by Amuche Nwaka, assistant corps marshal, said the FRSC would no longer tolerate the failure of fleet operators to adhere strictly to the terms of the road transport safety standardisation Scheme (RTSSS).
The FRSC boss said the retreat was intended to appraise and address notable observations made by the corps regarding the management of fleet operations in the country in the last one year.
He said investigations revealed that most recorded fleet operations-related crashes in the country could have been avoided if the concerned safety managers had been committed to their roles.
“This retreat is, therefore, a wake-up call to all of us to further justify our roles as safety managers,” NAN quoted Biu as saying.
“Specific lapses observed included non-installation of speed limit device (SLD), tampering with the already installed device, calibration above the approved speed limits, connivance with unscrupulous vendors for issuance of compliance certificates without actual installation, and so on.
“These shall no longer be tolerated as the corps will not hesitate to sanction non-compliant operators henceforth.
“All observed non-compliant fleet operators in any of the identified areas will be served with pre-action notices for prosecution and there is no going back on this.
“Fleet operators who refused to allow certification teams access to their premises will be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
“Fleet operators who fail to meet certification standards twice will be suspended from operations.
“Certified vehicle stickers shall be issued only for vehicles installed with functional speed limiting devices.”