The Federal Road Safety Corps has intensified enforcement operations and public sensitisation campaigns to address the persistent problem of commercial drivers stopping indiscriminately to pick up passengers, a practice that continues to endanger pedestrians and disrupt traffic flow across the country.
The Corps Public Education Officer, Olusegun Ogungbemide, said the unsafe habit—particularly common during weekends and peak traffic periods—remains one of the most routine traffic violations recorded on Nigerian roads. According to him, arbitrary stopping by commercial drivers creates avoidable obstructions, increases congestion, and has contributed to a number of road crashes.
He explained that the offence occurs daily and that patrol teams regularly apprehend violators during ongoing monitoring exercises nationwide. While acknowledging the widespread nature of the violation, Ogungbemide noted that it is practically impossible to arrest every offender at the same time. However, he stressed that the corps’ sustained patrol operations continue to identify and sanction those caught flouting traffic regulations.
Beyond enforcement, he said the FRSC places strong emphasis on public education as a long-term strategy for changing driver behaviour. He stressed that many of the dangerous stops occur in busy areas, on highways, at road intersections, and in other prohibited locations where sudden halts pose serious risks to other motorists and unsuspecting pedestrians.
Ogungbemide stated that obstruction of highways and unauthorised stopping in urban centres are clear violations of established traffic laws and remain punishable offences. He warned that such conduct not only disrupts the free flow of traffic but also exposes passengers to danger when they board or alight vehicles in unsafe locations.
He added that the corps’ records show consistent daily apprehensions of traffic offenders, reflecting sustained enforcement and nationwide monitoring efforts. The FRSC, he said, remains committed to ensuring that commercial drivers operate within designated bus stops and comply strictly with traffic regulations.
According to him, public cooperation is critical to curbing the menace. He urged passengers to avoid patronising drivers who stop in unsafe places and to insist on boarding vehicles at approved bus stops. He maintained that lasting compliance would require a collective effort involving drivers, commuters, transport unions, and enforcement agencies.
Reaffirming the corps’ commitment to road safety, Ogungbemide said continuous patrols, strict enforcement measures, and intensified public enlightenment campaigns would remain central to efforts aimed at protecting lives, reducing crashes, and ensuring orderly traffic movement across the country.
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