Ember Months: FRSC warns motorists against overloading, mix-loading

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Abia Sector Command, says it will deploy 927 personnel to enforce road safety regulations during its 2026 Ember Months campaign.

The Sector Commander, Mrs Ngozi Ezeoma, disclosed this at a news briefing in Umuahia on Monday.

Ezeoma said the campaign, themed “Overloading and Mix-Loading: A Dangerous Trend to Avoid”, would involve 500 regular marshals and 427 special marshals.

She said the command would also deploy seven patrol vehicles, three administrative vehicles, an ambulance and a tow truck to support its operations.

According to her, the personnel and operational equipment would be deployed across the command’s five unit commands, with particular attention given to major highways, identified crash-prone areas, motor parks and traffic junctions.

She explained that the patrol vehicles would support highway patrol, traffic monitoring, enforcement and rapid intervention, while the administrative vehicles would facilitate operational coordination and supervision.

The ambulance and tow truck, she added, would provide emergency response, casualty assessment, vehicle recovery and prompt removal of road obstructions in the event of crashes.

On supervision, Ezeoma said the command had introduced monitoring mechanisms to ensure that personnel performed their duties professionally and in accordance with the corps’ operational guidelines.

She said officers would undergo daily pre-patrol briefings and be subjected to 24-hour surveillance while on duty.

She added that she and other senior officers would monitor personnel deployed across the state to ensure effective service delivery and compliance with operational standards.

According to her, the measures reflect the command’s zero-tolerance stance on corruption and misconduct during and after the campaign.

Explaining the campaign’s theme, Ezeoma said it was designed to educate motorists on the dangers of overloading and mix-loading and reduce crashes associated with the practices.

She described overloading as carrying passengers or goods beyond a vehicle’s approved capacity, while mix-loading involved transporting passengers alongside animals or incompatible goods.

“Overloading compromises vehicle stability, braking efficiency and manoeuvrability, while mix-loading exposes passengers to additional dangers,” she said.

She said the campaign would also address other traffic violations, including excessive speeding, dangerous overtaking, driving against traffic, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, using mobile phones while driving and operating unroadworthy vehicles.

The sector commander said the first phase of the operation would run from October 26 to December 15, while the second phase would commence on December 15 and end on January 15, 2027.

She said the command had planned public enlightenment activities at motor parks, churches, mosques and other faith-based institutions, as well as motorcade rallies and the distribution of road safety educational materials.

Traditional rulers, transport unions, motor park operators and other stakeholders would also be engaged to encourage responsible driving and discourage dangerous road practices, she added.

Ezeoma further disclosed that the command would organise free medical outreach programmes for members of the motoring public, particularly commercial drivers, to assess their health conditions, psychological well-being and fitness to drive.