The House of Representatives on Thursday passed a resolution restraining the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) from enforcing installation of speed limit device by motorists nationwide.
It also summoned the Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Boboye Oyeyemi, to explain why use of the device should not be discontinued.
This followed the unanimous adoption of a motion under Matter of Urgent Public Importance, sponsored by Rep. Phillip Shaibu (APC-Edo).
Presenting the motion, Shaibu said the introduction of the speed limit device would expose motorists to hazards of armed robbery, car snatching and assassination.
The lawmaker said the device had been experimented and abandoned in other African countries due to “innate disadvantages”.
According to him, the device instructs a computer system to cut off fuel flow to the electronic injector system of the vehicle’s engine once the pre-set speed is exceeded.
Shaibu said: “Indeed, it is an outdated technology.
“Its introduction will expose motorists to hazards of criminally minded persons such as armed robbers, car snatchers and assassins who ply the roads.
“This is more apt given the security challenges Nigeria is presently grappling with.”
Shaibu advocated the use of Spider Technology, which he explained uses high technology mobile cameras installed on FRSC patrol vehicles to detect, monitor and track speed limits on highways.
“The spider technology will generate revenue into government coffers as defaulters will pay levies, unlike the speed limit technology that profits only the suppliers,” the lawmaker said.
Similarly, Rep. Johnson Agbonayinman (PDP-Edo) said it was unfortunate that Nigeria was becoming a dumping ground for all sorts of devices.
Agbonayinman said it would not be fair to introduce the device to Nigerians at the cost of N36,000 considering that people were trying to make ends meet.
He said: “It’s unacceptable for someone to come through the back door to introduce a device that will rip off Nigerians.
“I think what is needed is to ensure that there are speed breakers where they are necessary and let the road signs be there and for people to obey them.”
Also, Rep. Abubakar Chika (APC-Niger) decried the continuous introduction of different devices, which he said were not beneficial to motorists in the country.
Chika said: “Not quite long ago, we experienced the change of new plate numbers from FRSC, yet that was not beneficial to motorists.”
Rep. Onyemaechi Mrakpor (PDP-Delta) said the important thing for the FRSC was to ensure that abandoned vehicles, which posed dangers to road users, were removed from roads.
Mrakpor said: “At this time of economic downturn, it would be abnormal to levy Nigerians N36,000 on such device.
“The condition is so bad that some people, for instance, the commercial vehicle drivers, cut wires to enable them start their vehicles and where do you want them to get the money for speed limiting device.”
The Speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara, said many families in the country were faced with financial challenge, which might hamper them from getting the device.
Dogara said: “Almost all families are bleeding financially and it will be callous to impose this device on them.”
Dogara, therefore, referred the matter to the House Committee on Federal Road Safety Corps to investigate the matter and report back to the House in four weeks.
