Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) on Wednesday began nationwide full enforcement of the Speed Limiting Device (SLD) on commercial vehicles plying the nation’s highways.

This followed the Advisory Enforcement of the device on the commercial vehicles in 2016, preparatory to the full enforcement of the facility.

Already, the commission has deployed its personnel to the highways in all parts of the country to conduct the exercise.

In Jigawa, the state’s Command of the FRSC said it had deployed four patrol teams to begin full enforcement of the installation of the device on commercial vehicles in the state.

Sector Commander, Angus Ibezim, said in Dutse that the teams were being supported by personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Department of State Services (DSS).

In line with the commencement of the enforcement of the speed limiting device, we have deployed four patrol teams to ensure compliance.

They were deployed to Birnin Kudu-Maiduguri-Shuwarin-Kano-Gaya and Gumel-Hadejia highways.

He warned that the command would book and fine any driver N3,000 who failed to install the device on his
vehicle.

In Bauchi State, however, the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) decried the high cost of the SLD.

The Chairman of the union, Sule Adamu, said due to the current economic hardships, members of the union were finding it difficult to purchase the device at the cost of N45, 000.

However, all arrangements are in place to ensure that all members purchase the device through the union,
instead of buying it individually,’’ the chairman said.

The Head of Operations, FRSC, Bauchi Command, Paul Gar, urged other commercial vehicles operators to ensure prompt installation of the device to avoid penalties.

In Lagos, the Zonal Commanding officer FRSC Zone 2, comprising Lagos and Ogun, Shehu Zaki, said the
enforcement exercise had commenced in the area.

He said the exercise would continue until there was significant number of vehicles that installed the devices.

He said any vehicle arrested would pay a fine of N3,000.

In Lafia, the state Command of the FRSC alleged that some members of the National Union of the state branch of the NURTW had disrupted the enforcement exercise.

Deputy Corps Commander and Head of Operations, Emmanuel Ajongbade, said the union members disrupted the operation early in the morning.

In Ibadan, the Oyo State Command of the FRSC impounded and fined about 20 commercial vehicles operators for not installing the device.

Sector Commander, Yusuf Salami, said there was no going back on the enforcement of the device, as it
had earlier been postponed severally.

NURTW Chairman, Sango-Garage, Ibadan, Jide Bamidele, said most of the drivers were afraid of traveling because most of them were yet to install the device.

Salami said enough sensitisation campaign had been carried out on the importance of the device which involved the NURTW and RTEAN, among others, “and so, nobody can claim ignorance of the device’’.

Meanwhile, the Adamawa Command of the FRSC has suspended the enforcement of the device.

Sector Commander, Adegoke Adetunji, said the decision followed complaints by commercial drivers in the state.

He, however, said the command had held a meeting with all relevant stakeholders over the issue and that it
was agreed that the exercise would resume on Thursday .

He said no person was injured or arrested in connection with the situation.

State Chairman, NURTW, Bello Adamu, confirmed the development.