The Bauchi State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Mr Yusuf Abdullahi, is advocating the application of Sharia law to prosecute traffic offenders to stem road crashes in the country.
He made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday in Bauchi. According to him, the extant laws guiding road crashes are not stiff enough, hence, the need for the introduction of the Sharia law in traffic rules.
Abdullahi said the measure would instil discipline, encourage respect for traffic rules and promote safe road habits, among motorists.
“Let us introduce Sharia law to tackle road crashes and people will wake up. Our people are too careless, and the vehicle owners don’t bother to check them.
“If we don’t introduce Sharia law, many road users, especially in this area, would not start thinking twice before doing whatever they want to do.
“The introduction of Sharia law will curtail bad behaviour, as most of the crashes are due to negative attitudes by motorists and other road users.
People don’t want to take a rest; they speed because they want to make money. But if the law is introduced, by the time you are involved in a crash, it would be investigated, the guilty and his family would also be responsible for anything that happens in that vehicle.
“In a situation where the driver lost his life to a crash if found guilty, the owner of the vehicle would also be held responsible as it would be revealed that he didn’t do his homework before giving out the vehicle.
“The extant law is working, however, the extent to which it works is very important because in countries where Sharia law is being implemented, it guides attitudinal conduct to a level that even relatives and friends guide their relations in terms of what to do or not do.
“If stiffer penalties are being attached to road traffic crash offenders, it will go a long way to help us stem all drivers and other road users and make them drive carefully to avoid crashes,” Abdullahi said.
Further making case for Sharia law, the FRSC sector commander added that “Sharia law will be better. If you look at the countries where it is being practised, it is everybody’s business because your relations and friends know that it cannot be compromised.”
