By Nkechi Eze
In what is being described as a major boost to ongoing reforms in Nigeria’s road safety and national security sectors, eminent legal icon and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Aare Afe Babalola, has thrown his weight behind the Federal Road Safety Corps’ (FRSC) push to be legally empowered to bear arms. The endorsement was made during the visit of the newly deployed Ekiti State Sector Commander, Corps Commander Sanya Adeoye, to the Afe Babalola University in Ado-Ekiti.
According to an official signed statement by Assistant Corps Marshal Olusegun Ogungbemide, Corps Public Education Officer, Federal Road Safety Corps, the support from the legal luminary comes at a time when the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is intensifying efforts to enhance public safety and national security, particularly on Nigerian roads. Aare Babalola’s endorsement is seen as a credible affirmation of the necessity to equip the FRSC with additional tools to effectively protect its personnel and installations.
While speaking at the meeting, Aare Afe Babalola stated, “I will not only continue to support road safety ideals, but will advocate for a more secure working environment for FRSC staff by lending my support for the organisation to bear arms for the protection of its formations and personnel. This is because they must be fully secured to be able to discharge their duties professionally.”
The revered founder of Afe Babalola University emphasized that FRSC’s responsibilities have evolved beyond traditional traffic management. He argued that officers must now contend with a range of challenges, including security threats on highways and attacks on personnel and infrastructure. As such, he believes the Corps must be adequately empowered and trained to respond effectively to such threats.
Reacting to the endorsement, the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Shehu Mohammed, lauded the legal titan for his foresight and patriotism. He described Aare Babalola’s stance as “an overdue necessity” and reiterated the importance of legislative and executive support in enabling the FRSC to fully perform its expanding mandate.
“The support of respected elder statesmen such as Aare Afe Babalola provides strong moral and intellectual backing for the Corps’ quest to bear arms,” the Corps Marshal stated. “With such voices speaking up for us, I am confident that once the bill is passed and assented to by Mr. President, the FRSC will be strategically positioned to deliver on its core responsibility of ensuring safer roads for all Nigerians.”
The Corps Marshal further noted that the endorsement aligns with the Corps’ renewed drive under the current administration to modernize road safety operations through better training, advanced technology, and enhanced personnel security.
The proposed plan to arm FRSC personnel has been the subject of extensive debate in recent years, especially in light of increasing threats to road safety officers across the country. Aare Afe Babalola’s support is now expected to galvanize public and institutional consensus toward a legislative breakthrough.
The FRSC, under its current leadership, continues to push for transformative reforms that will not only improve highway safety but also ensure the protection of its workforce in line with global best practices.
