The Deputy Governor of Cross River State, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, has called for stricter enforcement of traffic regulations as he received the newly deployed Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr Innocent T. Etuk, during a courtesy visit to Government House, Calabar, on Tuesday.

Rt. Hon. Odey reminded the Corps of its core mandate to ensure safety on the roads, lamenting what he described as a “high level of leniency” in recent times, particularly within the state- which, he noted, has led to avoidable loss of lives.

He pledged the continued support and cooperation of the state government, stressing that the synergy between Cross River State and the FRSC aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda and Governor Bassey Otu’s People First mantra.

While commending the Corps for its existing collaboration with the state, the Deputy Governor charged the new Sector Commander and his team to step up their efforts in monitoring compliance, public sensitisation, and the uncompromising enforcement of road safety regulations.

Earlier in his remarks, the new and 24th FRSC Sector Commander, Mr Innocent Etuk, expressed gratitude to the state government for providing a conducive environment for the Corps to operate, and acknowledged improvements in infrastructure and other support extended to the command.

Explaining the purpose of his visit, Mr Etuk said it was necessary to familiarise himself with key stakeholders, particularly the Office of the Deputy Governor, following his recent deployment to Cross River State.

He decried the poor level of road safety compliance among motorists, observing that many drivers operate without valid licences or adequate training.

“We are seeing too many drivers, especially mini-bus operators, on the roads without proper documentation or training. This is a major contributor to road accidents,” he said.

The new commander outlined plans to partner with relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to reverse the trend, emphasising the need for continuous driver education, advocacy campaigns, and targeted enforcement to foster a stronger road safety culture in the state.

The courtesy visit was attended by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Anthony Owan-Enoh; Commissioner for Commerce, Hon. Dr (Mrs) Abigail Duke; Head of Personal Staff to the Deputy Governor, Dr Chris Ojikpong; alongside senior officers of the Corps.