Apostle Femi Lazarus has vehemently opposed a bill that seeks to empower Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) officers to carry firearms, emphasizing the potentially disastrous consequences of such a move.
The bill, which has already passed its second reading at the House of Representatives, was jointly sponsored by Abiodun Adesida and Olaide Muhammed, representatives of the All Progressives Congress from Ondo and Oyo states, respectively.
While reacting to the bill on Sunday, Apostle Lazarus urged Nigerians to reject the bill, warning that its implementation could lead to catastrophic outcomes and further destabilize the nation.
He highlighted Nigeria’s tumultuous past, particularly the EndSars protests against police brutality, and stressed that the country cannot afford to escalate violence.
The popular cleric said: “I want to beg Nigerians to lend their voices to this. There is a bill that is being passed and it has passed the second reading and I consider it a very dangerous bill and that is the fact that road safety officials should be given guns. No.
“Nigerians have faced the worst threat and one of the most devastating protest that has erupt this nation is the EndSars protest which is against police brutality.
“We do not want to see this nation burn. Every developed country are managing their roads and every safety guidelines with technology not with guns.
“We cannot say the future is for youth and we are killing them. Enough of that. And I want to beg Nigerians, lend your voice to this. That bill must not succeed. We have seen too many people killed by trigger happy officials. Not again.”
Meanwhile, numerous Nigerians have taken to social media to support Lazarus’s stance.
Gift Adeyemi succinctly expressed her opposition, stating, “It must not succeed. Enough is enough!”
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Aruleba Adegbenga elaborated on the dangers of the bill, citing the lack of training among road safety officers to handle firearms, the potential for abuse of power, and the exacerbation of violence on Nigerian roads.
Adegbenga concluded, “We need to address the root causes of insecurity on our roads and invest in better training and equipment for law enforcement agencies. Let us work together to build a safer and more secure nation for all. God bless Nigeria.”
