By Anita Dennis
The federal government has taken two decisive steps aimed at boosting national security and strengthening workforce integrity, unveiling 75 electric motorbikes for the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and mandating pre-employment drug testing across all federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
Speaking at the inauguration of the newly procured electric motorbikes in Abuja, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, urged the FRSC to leverage modern facilities to enhance road security and support economic growth. He emphasized that road safety and national security are intertwined, noting that well-secured highways are crucial for smooth socio-economic activities.
“The FRSC must key into the renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, ensuring citizen security, public confidence, and sustainable solutions,” Sen. Akume said. He stated that the deployment of the electric motorbikes demonstrates the federal government’s firm commitment to protecting lives, property, and critical infrastructure across the country.
According to the SGF, the motorcycles are equipped with sirens, high-visibility amber lights, microphones and loudspeakers for public announcements, as well as live audiovisual recording systems to support transparent enforcement. He called on the corps to deploy the motorbikes strategically to ease traffic and provide real-time intelligence to other security agencies for prompt responses to criminal activities.
FRSC Corps Marshal, Mallam Shehu Mohammed, commended the federal government for its continued support, noting that the addition of the electric motorbikes would strengthen the Corps’ operational capacity and enhance nationwide road safety measures.
In a parallel move to strengthen workforce integrity, the FG has approved mandatory pre-employment drug testing for all prospective applicants into the Nigerian Public Service. The policy, communicated through a service-wide circular by the Office of the SGF, directs all Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Extra-Ministerial Departments and Parastatals to implement drug testing in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The Director of Information and Public Relations in the Office of the SGF, Segun Imohiosen, explained that the initiative aims to curb rising incidents of illicit drug use while safeguarding productivity and public trust within the civil service. He clarified that the measure is preventive rather than punitive, designed to promote a healthy, disciplined, and dependable workforce capable of driving sustainable national development.
Together, these initiatives reflect the administration’s dual focus on security and efficiency. While the electric motorbikes are set to improve road safety and national security through enhanced mobility and real-time intelligence, pre-employment drug testing seeks to ensure that only qualified and responsible personnel are recruited into the public service.
Observers say the introduction of modern patrol equipment and preventive drug-testing measures marks a notable shift in Nigeria’s approach to security and workforce management. In combining technology-driven enforcement with preventive health policies, the government aims to create safer roads, a more disciplined workforce, and an environment conducive to sustained economic and social development.
As these programs roll out, attention will focus on the effective deployment of the motorbikes and the implementation of rigorous but fair drug testing procedures, ensuring both initiatives meet their intended goals of enhancing safety, efficiency, and public confidence across the country.
