Bill to Arm FRSC Officers Passes Second Reading in House of Representatives

 

A proposed bill aimed at empowering officers of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) to carry firearms has passed its second reading in the House of Representatives. The bill, co-sponsored by Abiodun Adesida (APC-Ondo) and Olaide Muhammed (APC-Oyo), was considered during a plenary session on Thursday.

The primary objective of the bill is to create a "Road Safety Special Armed Squad" that would be authorized to bear arms in carrying out their duties.

Although the bill marks a significant step toward enhancing the security role of the FRSC, it was not subjected to debate during the session. Speaker Abbas Tajudeen described the bill as "straightforward" and promptly referred it to the committee on FRSC for further review.

This is not the first time the issue of arming FRSC officers has been raised. In the 8th Assembly, a similar bill was introduced but failed to gain approval. The corps has long advocated for the right to bear arms, citing the need to protect its officers and enhance their ability to enforce road safety measures. However, the proposal has faced opposition in the past.

With the bill now progressing, it remains to be seen how the House and relevant stakeholders will address the longstanding debate over arming the FRSC.