The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has removed the Corps Commander in charge of Kwara State Sector Command over a controversial comment attributed to him at a public event, sources in the commission confirmed to Newslodge on Monday.
Fredrick Ogidan was dismissed barely 48 hours after he made a controversial comment that his superiors deemed critical of the federal government’s removal of subsidies, a cardinal economic policy of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Ogidan reportedly said in Ilorin, the state capital, days ago, that the removal of fuel subsidy was affecting his command’s operations, a concern that many Nigerians have expressed about the high cost of living and difficulties of policy.
President Tinubu announced the removal of the fuel subsidy during his inauguration speech in May.
Daily trust quoted Mr. Ogidan as he said in Ilorin that “the removal of subsidy has increased our budget and limited our movements, which has affected our operations.”
“However, the good thing is that the issue is already receiving attention and the necessary response from headquarters. Very soon we expect an increase in our finances after the guarantee from Corp Mashal, Dauda Ali Biu,” he added.
He was speaking at the awarding of the position of Special Marshal to the founder of Al-Hikmah University, AbdulRaheem Oladimeji.
A source revealed to Newslodge on Monday that Ogidan was “called to the national headquarters of the commission.”
The source said Ogidan was removed for his comment on fuel subsidy, which “FRSC management considers an act of indiscipline which is contrary to the code of conduct and rules of maintaining discipline of the organisation.”
Replacement
The source said Ogidan was replaced as Corps Commander in charge of Kwara State Sector Command by HE Dawulung.
Mr. Dawulung held, until his transfer to Kwara State, the Technical Services Department of the FRSC National Headquarters.
Efforts to contact the commission’s Public Relations Officer have been unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.
