Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Shehu Mohammed, has issued a stern warning to personnel to desist from extortion, harassment, and other unethical conduct, stressing that the agency’s mandate is to save lives—not to intimidate motorists.
Mohammed delivered the warning in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, during a sensitisation programme on discipline and the strengthening of command and control at the Abia Sector Command.
Represented by Corps Commander Paul Ogoegbunam, the Corps Marshal expressed concern over what he described as a worrying decline in discipline, professionalism, and effective supervision among some field operatives.
He said the exercise was prompted by increasing public complaints over misconduct, noting that the lapses have manifested in extortion, abuse of authority, and reckless enforcement practices that undermine the values of the Corps and erode public confidence.
“In recent months, we have observed a disturbing decline in discipline, professionalism, and command and control across several field commands.
“These lapses manifest as misconduct, unethical practices, abuse of authority, and extortion—actions that contradict everything our uniform stands for,” he said.
Mohammed warned that unethical behaviour would no longer be tolerated, vowing severe sanctions for any officer found culpable.
He emphasised that the FRSC was not set up as a revenue-generating agency but as a life-saving institution.
“We were not created merely to enforce traffic laws. We were established to save lives and serve the public with integrity,” he said.
Describing extortion, harassment, and abuse of authority as illegal and a betrayal of the oath of service, the Corps Marshal charged senior officers to tighten monitoring and supervision of their subordinates, insisting that professionalism is mandatory for all personnel.
Earlier, the Sector Commander, RS59.3, Abia State Sector Command, Corps Commander Ngozi Ezeoma, said the visit demonstrated the commitment of the FRSC headquarters to discipline, professionalism, operational efficiency, and improved service delivery.
She said the engagement provided officers and men with an opportunity to interact with top leadership, receive guidance, and align more closely with the vision and strategic direction of the Corps.
According to her, the programme also served as a platform for introspection and performance review, aimed at consolidating gains and addressing areas requiring improvement.
Ezeoma reaffirmed the command’s commitment to creating a safer motoring environment in Nigeria despite operational challenges and urged personnePrioritise Safety Over Revenue, FRSC Corps Marshal Tells Officersl to take the lessons from the sensitisation seriously.
