By Christian Njoku
Calabar, Dec. 18, 2025 (NAN) – In a decisive move to restore public confidence and uphold professional standards, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has issued a strict, zero-tolerance warning to its officials against the harassment of female motorists during traffic operations. This directive comes amid growing public outcry and reports of alleged misconduct, which threaten to erode the core mission of the agency.
Mr. Henry Benamasia, the Zonal Commanding Officer for RS 6 Port Harcourt, delivered the unequivocal warning during his fourth-quarter operational visit to the FRSC Sector Command in Cross River on Thursday. He framed the issue not merely as a breach of protocol, but as a fundamental failure that compromises the corps’ entire mandate.
“Our personnel must be the epitome of professionalism, courtesy, and respect on the road,” Benamasia stated. “The reported acts of harassment against female drivers and passengers are utterly unacceptable and antithetical to the training and ethos of a road safety officer.”
He elaborated on the profound damage such actions cause: “Every instance of harassment is a direct assault on public trust. It transforms the uniform—a symbol of safety and authority—into one of intimidation and fear. This undermines our primary goal of saving lives, as motorists who fear interaction with our officers may avoid reporting incidents or seeking help. We enforce laws to protect citizens, not to persecute them.”
Benamasia’s warning highlights a critical, often-overlooked aspect of law enforcement: the psychological impact of authority. The power dynamic between an officer and a motorist, particularly a woman traveling alone, is significant. Professional conduct requires an awareness of this dynamic and a disciplined, humane approach to enforcement. The commanding officer stressed that true authority is exercised with restraint and a commitment to service, not through coercion or abuse of power.
Beyond addressing misconduct, Benamasia connected professional integrity to broader operational goals. He emphasized the urgent need for improved capacity building in road safety data management. “Accurate, real-time data is the backbone of effective planning, budgeting, and life-saving interventions,” he explained. “When we are professional in the field, we also ensure data integrity, which allows us to identify accident hotspots, allocate resources strategically, and implement evidence-based policies.”
Reinforcing the gravity of the corps’ mission, he cited sobering global statistics: “Road safety is a global public health crisis. With over 1.3 million lives lost annually to traffic crashes worldwide, our work is literally a matter of life and death. Corruption, drug abuse, and unprofessional conduct are luxuries we cannot afford—they cost lives.”
On the ground in Cross River, Sector Commander Mr. Innocent Etuk outlined the command’s intensified efforts, particularly for the high-risk “Ember” months and yuletide season. These include increased patrols, public advocacy campaigns, and strengthened partnerships with community stakeholders.
However, Etuk also candidly addressed significant operational hurdles, including aging patrol vehicles, equipment shortages, and the inherent risks of field operations. These challenges, he noted, make maintaining morale and professionalism even more critical. Despite these constraints, he reaffirmed the command’s commitment to a tripartite strategy of “advocacy, enforcement, and strategic deployment” to safeguard all road users.
The visit concluded with appreciation from Mr. John Omori, Zonal Coordinator for FRSC Special Marshals, who thanked national and zonal leadership for their support. The clear message from the high-level meeting is that the FRSC is seeking to lead by example, demanding internal accountability to fulfill its external mandate of creating safer roads for every Nigerian, regardless of gender.
Edited by Ehigimetor Igbaugba and Azubuike Okeh
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CREDIT: CBN/ESI/AZU
