The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Abia Sector Command has announced plans to deploy 927 personnel to enforce road safety regulations during its 2026 Ember Months campaign. The Sector Commander, Mrs Ngozi Ezeoma, disclosed this at a news briefing in Umuahia on Monday. The campaign, themed “Overloading and Mix-Loading: A Dangerous Trend to Avoid”, aims to educate motorists on the dangers of overloading and mix-loading and reduce crashes associated with the practices.
The FRSC will deploy 500 regular marshals and 427 special marshals, along with seven patrol vehicles, three administrative vehicles, an ambulance and a tow truck to support its operations. The personnel and operational equipment will be deployed across the command’s five unit commands, with particular attention given to major highways, identified crash-prone areas, motor parks and traffic junctions. This move is aimed at enhancing road safety and reducing the risk of accidents during the Ember Months.
Overloading and mix-loading are practices that compromise vehicle stability, braking efficiency and manoeuvrability, and expose passengers to additional dangers. Ezeoma explained that overloading refers to carrying passengers or goods beyond a vehicle’s approved capacity, while mix-loading involves transporting passengers alongside animals or incompatible goods. The campaign will also address other traffic violations, including excessive speeding, dangerous overtaking and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
To ensure effective service delivery and compliance with operational standards, the command has introduced monitoring mechanisms. Officers will undergo daily pre-patrol briefings and be subjected to 24-hour surveillance while on duty. Ezeoma and other senior officers will monitor personnel deployed across the state to ensure that they perform their duties professionally and in accordance with the corps’ operational guidelines.
The first phase of the operation will run from October 26 to December 15, while the second phase will commence on December 15 and end on January 15, 2027. The command has planned public enlightenment activities at motor parks, churches, mosques and other faith-based institutions, as well as motorcade rallies and the distribution of road safety educational materials. Traditional rulers, transport unions, motor park operators and other stakeholders will also be engaged to encourage responsible driving.
The FRSC will also collaborate with relevant government agencies, security organisations and construction companies to strengthen road safety interventions and address identified challenges on highways across the state. Additionally, the command will organise free medical outreach programmes for members of the motoring public, particularly commercial drivers, to assess their health conditions, psychological well-being and fitness to drive.
Ezeoma appealed to traditional rulers, political leaders and community stakeholders to discourage reckless convoy operations, road obstruction and other activities capable of endangering lives during political engagements. She urged commercial vehicle operators, articulated vehicle drivers, transport unions and motor park managers to discourage overloading and mix-loading, and advised motorists to observe speed limits and avoid dangerous overtaking.
Key points
- The FRSC will deploy 927 personnel to enforce road safety regulations during its 2026 Ember Months campaign.
- The campaign aims to educate motorists on the dangers of overloading and mix-loading and reduce crashes associated with the practices.
- The command has introduced monitoring mechanisms to ensure that personnel perform their duties professionally and in accordance with the corps’ operational guidelines.
