Operation Velvet: Get safety requirements, avoid arrest, FRSC tells motorists

The Federal Road Safety Corps, on Tuesday, advised motorists to
avoid arrest by meeting the minimum safety standards.

Mr Hyginus Omeje, the Lagos State Sector Commander of FRSC,
warned in Lagos that the corps would randomly pick vehicles for
inspection during the ‘Operation Restore Sanity on Lagos
Roads/Operation Velvet’.

He spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria.

Omeje noted that the ‘operation’ was inaugurated on Thursday by
the police in conjunction with agencies such as FRSC, Lagos State
Traffic ManagementAuthority and the Nigerian Security and Civil
Defence Corps to tackle perennial gridlock in the state.

“During the exercise, motorists will be randomly picked to check
for minimum safety requirements in their vehicles.

“You must have your driver’s licence, your vehicle documents
must be in order, you must have your fire extinguisher, jack, wheel
spanner and caution sign, among others.

“If we observe that your lights are broken, and all those things
mentioned are lacking, your vehicle will be impounded and you will
be made to restore it and get everything in order before its
release,” Omeje said.

The FRSC sector commander said that all erring motorists would
be arraigned and prosecuted before mobile courts.

Omeje, decried motorists’ disregard for traffic rules.

He condemned driving against traffic, describing it as abnormal
and suicidal.

Omeje told NAN that 120 FRSC men would be deployed from its 10
unit commands in the state to join in the operation.

According to him, those to be deployed would be different from
those already in the Special Team on Apapa Gridlock.

NAN reports that the `Operation Restore Sanity on Lagos
Roads/Operation Velvet’ team is headed by the Lagos State
Commissioner of Police, Mr Imohimi Edgal.

The police identified some roads and areas for robust
intervention during the exercise.

They include Akpogbon and Obalende bridges, Marina, Bar Beach
and Idumota-lddo on Lagos Island; Allen Avenue, Mobolaji Bank
Anthony Way, Agidingbin by Omole, Ile Zik-Mangoro and Agege Motor
Road in Ikeja axis.

The others are ljora Badia, Alaka Junction and Ojuelegba on
Lagos Mainland, as well as Alakija, lyana-Iba, Alaba Rago and
Festac First Gate on the Mile 2-Badagry Road.

(NAN)