The House of Representatives on Thursday asked the Federal Road Safety Corps to stop the compulsory use of speed limiters by motorists in the country.
Lawmakers said besides the technology being “outdated”, its unit price of N36,000 would pile more misery on Nigerians.
In its resolution in Abuja, the House summoned the Corps Marshall and Chief Executive Officer of the FRSC, Mr. Boboye Oyeyemi, to explain why his agency planned to place another “needless burden” on Nigerians.
Members passed the resolution after an All Progressives Congress lawmaker from Edo State, Mr. Philip Shaibu, moved a motion on “introduction of speed limiter outdated technology by FRSC.”
Leading the debate on the floor, Shaibu said the technology had inherent disadvantages, including the fact that it could only work with electronic injector vehicles and not vehicles fitted with carburettors.
Part of Shaibu’s motion read, “The House is concerned that the speed limit device has been experimented and abandoned in some African countries due to innate disadvantages.
“Indeed, it is an outdated technology.
“(We are) further concerned that its introduction will expose motorists to evil-minded persons such as armed robbers, car snatchers and assassins who ply the same roads.
“This is more apt given the security challenges Nigeria is currently grappling with.”
Mr. Tajudeen Yusuf (Kogi State) and Mr. Johnson Agbonayinma (Edo State), both of the Peoples Democratic Party, argued that manufacturers of the technology opted for Nigeria as a “dumping ground,” knowing that it was outdated.
“The idea of speed limit is a way for the manufacturers of speed limit devices to find a market in Nigeria for their outdated devices,” Yusuf said.
Agbonayinma stated, “Why do you want to impose speed limit devices on people who cannot afford three square meals a day?
“This policy is unacceptable; it will not be fair to Nigerians to accept substandard equipment.”
Members advised the FRSC to go for newer technologies that could be installed along the highways to limit speed.
They observed that in advanced societies, such technologies were not necessarily installed in vehicles, neither did they place any direct financial burden on motorists.
Mr. Abubakar Jika, for instance, recalled that the FRSC had introduced unpopular policies in the past.
He cited the case of the replacement of the old number plate.
Jika added, “We were told that the new (number) plates would be fitted with security chips to promote safety on our roads.
“We haven’t seen how the new plate is different from the old one. Yet, we all know that Nigerians paid so much money on the new one.”
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