A bill seeking to authorize officers of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) to carry firearms has successfully passed its second reading in the House of Representatives.
The bill, co-sponsored by Abiodun Adesida (APC-Ondo) and Olaide Muhammed (APC-Oyo), was read for the second time during Thursday’s plenary session.
The legislation aims to establish a Road Safety Special Armed Squad, which would grant FRSC officers the legal authority to bear arms while performing their duties. Despite the bill’s significance, members of the House did not engage in a debate over the matter.
Speaker Abbas Tajudeen described the proposal as a “straightforward bill” and promptly referred it to the committee on FRSC for further legislative consideration.
It is worth noting that the FRSC has long been advocating for the right to bear arms, but the effort has met resistance over the years.
In the 8th Assembly, a similar bill was introduced in the House of Representatives, seeking to arm FRSC officers, but the initiative was ultimately unsuccessful.
This renewed push signals continued efforts to enhance the operational capacity of the FRSC in ensuring road safety, as the bill moves forward for further scrutiny by the committee.
