FG to equip FRSC with helicopters for emergency evacuations

FILE: FRSC officials at an accident scene

The Federal Government is moving forward with plans to equip the Federal Road Safety Corps with helicopters, aiming to streamline the emergency evacuation of accident victims across the country.

The helicopters, slated for procurement under a Public-Private Partnership arrangement, were announced during the FRSC Management Retreat and press conference held in Abuja on Tuesday.

The Deputy Corps Marshal, who oversees the Corps Policy, Research and Statistics Department, Clement Oladele, highlighted the progress made toward securing these air assets.

Oladele also noted ongoing discussions with private sector partners to further equip the FRSC with air ambulances, which would be stationed at strategic locations near trauma centres along accident-prone routes.

“Aside from the new engagement of the new Corps Marshal, we have got some private individuals keen on Public-Private Partnership with us.

“We thought it might be longer for us to get our choppers, but from the discussions that are going on, it might be earlier.

“But it is not just the choppers, it is also to have air ambulances. These air ambulances will be at strategic positions within the coordinates of trauma centres where road crashes normally happen so that we can easily evacuate crash victims.

“These will also be aided with drones as part of technology to advance the cause of the FRSC,” he explained.

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