September 28, (THEWILL) — The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Shehu Mohammed, has renewed a controversial proposal to allow some road safety officers to carry firearms while carrying out their duties on highways. Mohammed argues that officers face danger when they confront large or overloaded vehicles and that extra protection could help them do their work more effectively.
Speaking publicly on Thursday, he framed the proposal as potentially the sole effective method to uphold traffic laws, particularly when confronting overloaded vehicles driven by defiant operators.
Mohammed explained, “How do you stop a trailer or a tanker on the road? It is very difficult. A truck, especially a truck with probably 100 passengers on top with animals and you only have four personnel as a team on patrol trying to stop a trailer. How do you do that?”
He added that such authority would bolster compliance, noting the Corps’ record of dismissals for bribery among its ranks.
The proposal sits alongside a bill that moved through the House of Representatives in October 2024 and would create a Road Safety Special Armed Squad within the FRSC. The bill passed a second reading and was referred to a committee for further work, although it remains stalled in the Senate amid heated debate. The sponsors and lawmakers framed the change as a way to give the agency new tools to manage threats on major roads, with proponents arguing it would deter violations and compel drivers to halt, reducing incidents where vehicles evade checkpoints.
The case for stronger protection comes against a backdrop of significant casualties on Nigerian roads, with the FRSC reporting thousands of deaths annually. Transport unions have voiced limited support for the arming proposal, suggesting it might curb the lawlessness of haulage operators who ignore regulations for profit. Supporters link the idea to the need for stronger control of heavy commercial vehicles that cause a disproportionate share of serious crashes on highways, presenting it as one part of a wider plan to improve road management.
However, opposition dominates the discourse, with campaign groups, student unions and many citizens voicing sharp reactions. I do not support arming FRSC officers and don’t see any need for this. The reasons adduced by the Corps Marshall are not enough to arm officers. I am certain that what officers require are technology and road reforms, not firearms.
Critics point to the history of armed units in the country and to well-documented cases of police misconduct that have left deep public distrust. They warn that arming FRSC personnel could create a new source of harm rather than solving existing problems.
Public distrust of armed officers in Nigeria has strong roots. The #EndSARS movement and the documentation by human rights groups of abuses by some police units shaped broad scepticism about expanding the power of uniformed bodies without strong accountability. Nigeria records substantial numbers of deaths yearly from police actions in routine settings, a pattern that can potentially repeat itself with the Federal Road Safety Corps. This fear centres on the potential for escalation during everyday interactions, with traffic stops already breeding resentment through documented cases of demands for bribes or aggressive confrontations.
While officer safety merits attention, with assaults documented throughout 2024 and into 2025, including incidents in Edo and Ebonyi States, firearms introduce significant complexities. Without stringent oversight, they could amplify existing issues like extortion, where officers solicit small payments to waive fines. The balance tilts heavily against armament, as enforcement might gain short-term strength yet risk eroding the trust essential for voluntary compliance.
Some of these viable alternatives deserve careful attention and offer more sustainable solutions. The FRSC has been developing technology-driven measures, including speed limiting devices for commercial vehicles and programmes to improve automated systems for enforcement. Technology offers practical enhancements, such as automatic number plate recognition systems to track offenders remotely, reducing the need for physical stops. Electronic ticketing could automate fines, generating revenue while minimising human interaction, while speed cameras have already shown promising results in areas where they are deployed efficiently.
International studies show that automated enforcement devices and camera systems can reduce serious and fatal crashes when designed and managed with clear rules and public notice. These tools reduce the need for close personal confrontations and shift the emphasis to evidence and fines applied away from the roadside. Collaboration with police provides another layer, deploying joint patrols in high-risk areas to leverage existing armed units without duplicating resources. Comprehensive training programmes focusing on de-escalation and ethics would equip officers to handle resistance safely.
Infrastructure investment remains paramount, with proper road maintenance and safety barriers potentially preventing thousands of fatalities. Economic pressures fuel violations, as drivers overload vehicles to maximise earnings amid inflation. An independent oversight body with public access to complaint data would ensure accountability, aligning with the FRSC’s strategy for safer roads through innovation rather than intimidation.
The debate over arming the FRSC could produce a clearer national plan to reduce crashes if it prompts lawmakers to fund modern enforcement technology and reform oversight systems.
Mohammed’s call for arms stems from genuine frustrations, but it overlooks the fundamental nature of traffic enforcement in a democratic society. Whether the legislature adopts the proposed amendment that has stalled in the chambers since 2024 with this new call from the Corps Marshal remains to be seen, but the weight of evidence and public sentiment suggests a different path forward.
Whatever decision the National Assembly and President Bola Tinubu take on arms for the FRSC, I am certain that the national discussion on the steps that can reduce road casualties will persist. Since Nigeria is not a gun country like the United States of America where adults are allowed to own and carry guns, I insist that viable solutions to curb accidents and traffic offences exist through technology, infrastructure investment, proper training and systemic reforms that address root causes rather than symptoms. The truth is that effective road safety comes through comprehensive approaches that prioritise prevention, education, and smart enforcement rather than the threat of lethal force.
We must disabuse our minds of resorting to the barrel of a gun as a solution to every issue, even a non-violent crime like a traffic violation. The right course lies in building systems that command respect through competence and fairness, not fear through firepower.
