A bill seeking to empower the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to bear arms has passed the second reading at the house of representatives.

The bill, sponsored by Abiodun Adesida, a member from Ondo, and Olaide Muhammed from Oyo, passed the second reading during the plenary on Thursday.

The bill proposes to amend the Federal Road Safety Corps Act 2007 and establish the road safety special armed squad.

The legislation also aims to make personnel on the rank of deputy corps marshal “enjoy benefits attached to that grade, including retirement grade”.

The bill intends to empower the FRSC with the responsibility for road “traffic administration and safety management, preventing and minimising road traffic crashes on public roads, supervision of users of such public roads, regulation of traffic thereon, and clearing of obstruction on any part of the public roads, and for educating drivers, motorists, and other members of the public generally on the proper use of public roads”.

The bill, which was not debated, was unanimously voted for when put to a voice vote by Tajudeen Abass, the speaker of the house.

Abass referred the bill to the committee on FRSC for further legislative action.

The house also asked the FRSC to embrace technology-assisted enforcement such as automatic vehicle local (AVL) systems, automated traffic enforcement (ATE) systems, advanced analytics, and data platforms to enforce its mandate in the country.

The house passed the resolution after the adoption of a motion moved by Garba Muhammad, a lawmaker from Kano.

In September, President Bola Tinubu asked the FRSC to improve road monitoring to reduce accidents nationwide.

The president’s demand followed a road accident in Kaduna state in which over 36 people were killed.

The victims were worshippers travelling to Saminaka in Lere LGA of Kaduna to observe Eid-el-Mawlid, a celebration marking the birth of Prophet Muhammad.

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has responded to a viral video involving Asari Dokubo, a former Niger Delta militant leader.

In the video, Dokubo claimed he could bring down a military aircraft that was allegedly surveilling his home during the recent LGA elections in Rivers state.

Dokubo said the aircraft was attempting to intimidate him because of his support for the election process.

“The federal government knows I have the capacity to bring down any aircraft,” he said.

In response, Edward Buba, director of defence media operations, dismissed Dokubo’s claims as “laughable”.

He added that Dokubo was merely “blabbing” and did not have the power to challenge the military or shoot down its aircraft.

Buba explained that various security agencies use aircraft and helicopters for national security purposes.

He assured that the military operates within professional standards and respects democratic principles.

He added that addressing such claims falls under the responsibility of the “appropriate authorities”.

Buba also responded to reports of 13 former Boko Haram fighters escaping from a rehabilitation centre with government rifles in Borno state.

He said the military is not in charge of the deradicalisation, rehabilitation, and reintegration (DDR) programme, adding that measures are being taken to ensure the programme’s effectiveness.

Buba also noted that over 300 terrorist leaders have been eliminated in military operations across the north-west in the past three months.

He added that the military has adjusted its strategies in the region to replicate the successes achieved in the north-east, with some “wanted terrorist leaders” expressing interest in surrendering through the new Operation Fasan Yamma.

Lucky Aiyedatiwa, governor of Ondo, has dismissed Adeboye Taofiq Ewenla, special assistant on forestry (central senatorial district), with immediate effect.

According to a statement issued by the press secretary to the governor, the dismissal followed allegations of bribery and intimidation against Ewenla by some timber merchants in the state.

“Governor Aiyedatiwa also ordered a probe into the activities of those saddled with the responsibility of managing forest reserves in the state, noting that a replacement for Mr. Ewenla will be announced in due course,” the statement reads.

“The Governor urged all political appointees to conduct themselves in line with the provisions of the law and rules guiding their duties.”