The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Osun State Command, has deployed 555 personnel for a special Eid-el-Kabir patrol aimed at improving road safety and easing traffic flow across the state.
The Sector Commander, Mr Sunday Adebayo, announced this in a statement issued in Osogbo by the Sector Public Education Officer, Mrs Agnes Ogungbemi.
He said the operation, scheduled to run from May 25 to May 31, is designed to reduce road crashes and ensure orderly movement of vehicles during the festive period.
Adebayo urged motorists to obey traffic rules and avoid reckless driving, warning that offenders would be sanctioned.
He added that the corps would intensify monitoring and enforcement throughout the exercise.
According to him, the operation will be backed with three ambulances, two roadside clinics, one tow truck, and 15 patrol vehicles to strengthen response and enforcement on highways.
“The operation will be carried out in collaboration with other sister security agencies.
“The statutory responsibilities of the corps include clearing obstructions on roads, identifying causes of road traffic accidents and proffering solutions to them,” he said
He further appealed to drivers to remain cooperative, observe speed limits, and comply with all safety regulations during the celebration period.
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He also called on media organisations and other stakeholders to sustain awareness campaigns on road safety.
Adebayo stressed the need for joint efforts to curb highway crashes, speeding, wrongful overtaking, route violations, and overloading.
Meanwhile, travellers have expressed concerns over rising transport fares ahead of the Sallah celebration, following the recent increase in petrol prices.
A driver at Nelson Mandela Park, Old Garage, Osogbo, Mr Kola Ayanfe, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that transport fares remain unstable due to fuel price hikes. He advised passengers to plan their journeys early to avoid being stranded.
Ayanfe also called on the Federal Government to address the rising cost of transportation, especially during festive periods when travel demand increases.
A traveller, Miss Kafiyat Abdullahi, said she paid N2,500 from Ilorin to Osogbo and would likely pay between N3,000 and N3,500 to continue her trip to Ibadan.
She lamented the worsening economic situation, noting that higher fuel prices have driven up costs of food and other essentials.
She appealed to transport operators to be considerate when fixing fares and urged government intervention to stabilize petrol prices.