Nobody is immune from checks, says commission

A medical doctor, Daniel Okwoche, has accused the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) of contributing to the death of his father; delaying him from getting to the hospital in time.

He disclosed this in a voice message he shared on some of his professional social media platforms. Okwoche, who called on the Federal Government to review the law establishing the FRSC, alleged that some officers of the corps take delight in wasting drivers’ time, even when informed of an emergency.

He said: “They were responsible for my going to work late, last Thursday, when I was supposed to represent an entire department. They made me keep my head of department and consultants waiting, even when I told them that we were late.

“I was on my way to the office with two student nurses in the vehicle. They kept us waiting, and I eventually received a query.

“I think the law establishing the FRSC should be reviewed because I don’t understand why essential service providers will be kept on the road for patients to die.

“You can’t go and save lives just because some officers take delight in wasting your time, asking for the same document they asked some few minutes ago.”

He revealed: “As a matter of fact, the FRSC contributed to the death of my father. When I was rushing to get blood products for his transfusion, the road safety man flagged me down, asking why I should receive a call while driving.

“I said I received the call from the hospital where I was to get the blood for my father. I tried explaining but he wouldn’t listen. I said, ‘okay, allow me to go, I will come back and pay whatever you bill me’. He still refused to let me go.

“He checked my vehicle, and by the time they finished with me, the hospital has closed its office. I couldn’t get the product I wanted to get for my father. When I finally got the blood to the hospital, it was already useless. I lost my dad to anemic heart failure.

“If you are coming back in the same route, they will still stop you; they will want to carry out all the comprehensive checks, even when you informed them that you were on an emergency to save life.

“I don’t know why a health worker going to work as early as 7:00 p.m., should be disturbed. Some time, they take between 30 minutes and one hour for the search. Government should do something about this issue.

Health workers should be allowed to save lives and not end lives. Every second matters in saving a life.” Reacting, spokesperson for the state command of FRSC, Isuku Ikpi, said nobody has immunity in road traffic checks.

He said: “It’s only when you are driving an ambulance that you are seen as going for an emergency. So, if you are driving a private car and road safety officers are on the road carrying out routine patrol operations, every driver should stop and subject his or her self to checks, to know if they are licensed to drive or have requisite requirements to be on the road. So, nobody has immunity in road traffic checks.”

He added: “Anybody can have issues on the road, whether you are a medical personnel, a lawyer, or a business person. All categories of road users are to subject to checks and obey traffic rules.

“For instance, if a person is driving without using a seatbelt, is he expecting the road safety officer on duty not to stop him and ask why? Our checks on the road are to ensure that those who are driving comply with traffic rules and regulations.”