The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, has opposed the proposed bill seeking to empower operatives of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, with firearms.
In a statement on Friday in Abuja, the association’s Vice President for Inter-Campus and Gender Affairs, Sileola Akinbodunse, described the bill as a “reckless misstep that endangers commuters.”
He argued that the FRSC, established in 1988 to reduce road crashes, has struggled to deliver on its mandate.
“In the first quarter of 2025 alone, 2,650 accidents claimed 1,593 lives, an 8.3 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2024. This exposes systemic failures in enforcement and infrastructure,” he said.
NANS warned that arming the corps would worsen insecurity on highways rather than solve it, noting that the FRSC should focus on addressing issues such as delays in issuing driver’s licences, bribery, and poor service delivery.
“Arming an agency struggling with basic duties like issuing licences, with 40,000 pending in Abia State alone, defies logic and global best practices,” the statement added.
The group also cited allegations of extortion involving FRSC officials, coupled with poor remuneration and outdated equipment, as evidence that the corps needs reform, not firearms.
It urged lawmakers to withdraw the bill and instead invest in logistics, training, and technology to improve road safety operations.
