The Zonal Commanding Officer, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Lagos and Ogun states, Assistant Corps Marshal (ACM) Matthew Olufemi Olonisaye, has urged governments, safety support agencies, and other relevant stakeholders to strengthen their commitment to enhancing road infrastructure and safety across Lagos and Ogun States.
ACM Matthew Olonisaye who previously served as Corps Engineering Officer at the FRSC National HQ, Abuja before this new role disclosed this during an exclusive interview, in which he highlighted ongoing engagements and institutional mechanisms designed to address road safety challenges, including the provision of road signs.
Responding to concerns about the apparent scarcity of road signs on some highways, Olonisaye acknowledged gaps but clarified that efforts are ongoing through structured inter-agency processes. He explained that road infrastructure, including signage, often falls within the purview of construction authorities such as the Federal Ministry of Works, state governments and other stakeholders particularly when roads are still under development. “To the best of my knowledge, I have moved around and I could see some road signs on the road but they may not be enough,” he said.
“There are some roads that are under construction like the Shagamu-Ijebu-Ode-Ore road and I believe that the Federal Ministry of Works will definitely install such infrastructure after the completion of the road,” he noted.
Importantly, the FRSC plays an advisory and supervisory role. According to Olanishaye, “We also need to be reminded that one of our mandates as FRSC is to recommend works and devices that could minimize road traffic crashes to governments.”
He revealed that they also conduct quarterly road audits to identify crash-prone areas and infrastructure deficiencies. “Every quarter, we carry out road audits to detect areas where such furniture is required, and also observe crash-prone areas.”
These findings are then forwarded to relevant authorities, including state governments and safety-focused institutions such as the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), for action, he indicated.
On broader stakeholder engagement, the FRSC Zonal Commander, Matthew Olonisaye emphasized that while sector commands lead routine interactions with groups like transport unions, the Zonal Command intervenes strategically when necessary in the bid to ensure that Nigeria has safer roads and reduce preventable crashes.