The Lagos State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr Olusegun Ogungbemide, on Wednesday led officers of the corps to monitor vehicular movement and sensitise motorists plying the ever-busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

Ogungbemide told newsmen that the exercise followed the Federal Government’s lifting of the restriction order on interstate travel imposed since May 4, in a bid to contain the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.

The lifting of the interstate travel ban takes effect from Wednesday but outside the curfew hours between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m.

Ogungbemide said the motive behind the monitoring and sensitisation programme that FRSC took up this morning had to do with the recent directive of the Federal Government on the relaxation of the interstate movement.

“It is a known fact that the opening up of the interstate movement, which has been closed for the past few months, will result in an unprecedented upsurge in vehicular movement which could lead to a chaotic situation and eventual crashes being experienced on the highway.

“The essence of this is to sensitise members of the public and the motorists on the need for them to be patient, to avoid reckless driving and speed and to be more focussed and respect all traffic regulations,” he said.

According to him, this exercise is taking place in all the units of the sector command in Lagos State.

“We are also simultaneously carrying out enforcement support with mobile courts. It is an operation that we are not going to undermine, it is going to be on for a while.

“I hope all the motoring public will adhere to the rules,” the FRSC boss said.

He said that both drivers and travellers had a duty to stay alive by avoiding reckless driving and overloading.

Ogungbemide advised motorists to respect other road users, avoid distractions and move at “a common-sense speed.”

NAN reports that the exercise kicked off before the Kara Bridge outward Lagos on the busiest Lagos-Ibadan highway, with Ogungbemide and his men educating the drivers.

Flyers with an inscription “No to Overloading” were distributed to motorists.