The Federal Road Safety Corps(FRSC) has deployed 555 personnel across Osun State for a special Eid-el-Kabir patrol operation aimed at reducing road crashes and ensuring smooth traffic flow during the festive period.
The Osun Sector Commander of the FRSC, Sunday Tayo Adebayo, disclosed this in a statement issued in Osogbo by the command’s Public Education Officer, Agnes Ogungbemi.
According to Adebayo, the week-long operation will run from May 25 to May 31, covering major highways, urban roads and critical traffic corridors across the state as thousands of travellers move for the Sallah celebrations.
He said the command would deploy three ambulances, two roadside clinics, one tow truck and 15 patrol vehicles to strengthen emergency response and traffic management during the operation.
“Five hundred and fifty-five personnel, three ambulances, two roadside clinics, one tow truck and fifteen patrol vehicles would be deployed to cover Osun State,” the sector commander said.
Adebayo explained that the operation was in line with directives from the FRSC headquarters for nationwide Sallah patrols and would be conducted in collaboration with other security and emergency agencies.
He noted that the command would focus on clearing road obstructions, managing traffic congestion and enforcing compliance with road safety regulations, particularly against speeding, route violations, dangerous overtaking and overloading.
“This season will be full of activities as we will be involved in the management of vehicular movement throughout the festive period,” he said.
The sector commander appealed to motorists to cooperate with officials and strictly obey traffic laws to avoid accidents and sanctions.
He also urged media organisations, transport unions and community leaders to intensify public awareness campaigns on safe driving practices during the celebration.
“We must all join hands to fight this dangerous trend for us to win the war against avoidable loss of lives on the roads,” Adebayo added.
The Eid-el-Kabir season traditionally records increased interstate travel across Nigeria, often leading to traffic congestion and a spike in road crashes on major highways.
In Osun and neighbouring South-West states, transport operators have also raised concerns over rising operational costs linked to the increase in petrol prices ahead of the festivities.
Some commuters who spoke in Osogbo lamented the sharp rise in transport fares, saying many families now face difficulties travelling for the celebration.
A commercial driver at Nelson Mandela Park in Old Garage, Osogbo, Kola Ayanfe, said transport fares remained unstable because of fluctuating fuel prices.
“The cost of transportation cannot stabilise due to the increase in petrol price,” he said, urging travellers to plan their movements early to avoid being stranded.
A traveller, Kafiyat Abdullahi, said she paid N2,500 from Ilorin to Osogbo and expected to spend an additional N3,000 to N3,500 travelling onward to Ibadan.
She appealed to transporters to show consideration during the festive season, while also calling on the Federal Government to address rising fuel costs and transportation challenges affecting Nigerians.
The deployment comes as security and emergency agencies across the country intensify preparations for the Eid celebrations amid concerns over road safety, heavy vehicular movement and economic pressures affecting holiday travel.
