From Lagos
Officers and men of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) indulging in extortion of motorists have been warned to desist from such corrupt tendency.
The Corp Marshal, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi,gave the administration during the Pull Out Parade of the Assistant Corps Marshal,Mr Imoh Etukin Lagos on Friday.
He said doing so would enable the commission to effectively achieve its aims and objectives of minimizing road crashes in the country.
Oyeyemi, represented by the Zonal Commanding Officer (Road Safety 11) Osogbo, Assist. Corp Marshal, Godwin Ogagaoghene, said that collecting bribe from over-loaded vehicles could lead to accident.
On retirement, he said:”Every officer who joined the service must have at the back of his or her mind that, there will be a day of exit. What you do within the time of entry and exit matters because that is the legacy you are living behind.
“People will remember you for what you did and things who didn’t do. If you want to leave a good legacy, be diligent in your duties and have rename disposition to carry others along.”
Oyeyemi said the commission would remember Etuk for the good legacy and team work he exhibited while in service and the good things he had done to Nigerians.
“We prayed that as he embarks on another face of life, that God will grant him success in all his endeavours,” he added.
Oyeyemi said life had no duplicate and advised drivers to follow the protocols of driving, especially on the highway reminding them them life passengers is entrusted on them.
The FRSC boss said commercial drivers should drive with caution, especially during the end of the year, noting that speed skills.
Responding, Etuk,who was the commission’s Zonal Commanding Officer, Lagos and Ogun, before his retirement, praised the Almighty God for seeing him through his assignments in the commission.
Etuk,who noted that said that many of his colleagues died while in service, appreciated the service for giving him a platform to serve the humanity and rose to the level of Assist. Corp Marshal.
He said being a core public education officer and zonal head of Lagos, he faced a lot of challenges with the public because of the attitude of Nigerians against enforcement of laws generally.
“People don’t want to obey laws but I found out that obeying laws is better than sacrifice.
“The laws are simple, don’t overload your vehicle, don’t drink alcohol while driving, maintain your vehicle and allow observe speed limits while driving.
“Drivers should obey laws and not to make attempts to bribe law enforcers and am also appealing to the incoming officers to be delighted, hard working and fare God at all times.
“If you turn blind eye to road infraction and collect money, you are contributing to the crashes on the highway and the blood of the crashes are on your neck,” Etuk said.
Etuk also told drivers not to offer FRSC personnel bribe but instead, ensure that they ply road with standard vehicles and follow the road safety protocols.
Also speaking, an Architect, Mr Ovie Binitie, a Water Solution Expert, described Etuk as a seasoned gentleman, professional strict and diligent.
Binitie,who recalled that he knew Etuk since 1973, when they were admitted into the Federal Government College, Warri, said Etuk had dedicated policy of ensuring effective delivering of any task given to him and more than expectation.
He urged the commission to educate drivers, motorists and other members of the public, on the proper use of the highway. Designing and producing vehicle number plates and driver’s licenses.
The Reporters, an online publication gathered the born on Oct. 9, 1960 in Kaduna, an Ibibio from Akwa-Ibom State, Etuk worked in several organisations before joining FRSC January 1998.
The retiree served in various capacities such as :pioneer unit Commander in Ido-Ekiti and Apapa Wharf, Zonal Head of Operations, Lagos and Plateau States, Sector Commander, Osun, Delta, Rivers and Enugu, Corps Public Enlightenment Officer among others.
