The Federal Road Safety Corps, RS7HQ, has concluded plans to flag off a Special Intervention Patrol, SIP, code-named ‘Operation Akaeze,’ aimed at enforcing adherence to Passenger’s Manifest by commercial drivers.
The SIP will ensure that passengers travelling on inter-state journeys are mandated to authenticate their details in the Passenger’s Manifest as enshrined in the National Road Traffic Regulations, 2012, Section 51(5).
Section 51(5) provides that “all passenger-carrying commercial vehicles shall, before commencing any intercity journey, keep and maintain a passenger manifest, indicating the names of its passengers, their addresses, their point of departure and destination, their telephone numbers, name and telephone number of the next of kin.”
The Zonal Commanding Officer, Zone 7HQ Abuja, comprising the Federal Capital territory, FCT, and Niger State, ACM Jonas Agwu, observed with dismay that not all commercial motorists comply with this section of the law.
He added that it was further observed that some passengers usually either give wrong details or refuse to fill the form; explaining that this is a must for proper identification of the passengers in case of any accident on the highway and that it is a preventive measure in case of an emergency on the road.
In a statement signed by Superintendent Route Commander, SRC, Enenu E. Ochepo for the zonal commanding Officer, Agwu was quoted saying that the zone will be devoting greater attention to the enforcement of passenger’s manifest at motor parks, with a view to assisting the relevant authorities in the area of contact tracing.
Agwu said, “The manifest is expected to be filled before take-off at the motor parks, which contains the name, destination, address, phone number as well as the contact details of passenger’s next of kin.
While charging the passengers to always assist in filling the manifest before taking off from the park, Agwu added, “Compliance with passenger manifest during and after ember months will be useful in identifying travels and occupants of a commercial vehicle in the event of a possible road traffic crash.” he stated.
Operation Akaeze will commence from 29th September 2020, and shall hold every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Mr Agwu appealed to passengers and commercial vehicles operators to cooperate and support the enforcement drive, warning that defaulters will be arrested in accordance with the provision of the National Road Traffic Regulations.
