No fewer than 50 drivers had been convicted for violation of road traffic regulations in the last two months in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said.

Mr Abdulhakeem Abdulkareem, the Director of Operations, FRSC, Omu-Aran Unit Command, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the infractions were committed between January and February. Abdukareem said that the convicts were among the offenders who appeared at mobile courts periodically setup by the corps in conjunction with the state judiciary.

He said that some of the convicts received sentences ranging between three months and six months for such traffic offences as vehicle particulars violation, overloading and jumping traffic light. Abdulkareem, however, said that the court gave each of the convicts the option of payment of fines in order to regain their freedom.

He said the objective of establishing the mobile court was for motorists to comply with traffic rules and regulation. It is also to safe traffic offenders the energy of travelling to far distance to effect payment, he said.

The unit commander said that patrols and surveillance had been intensified on the highways in the area to ensure safe driving and reduce avoidable accidents. This, he said, was part of the unit's renewed efforts aimed at reducing the incessant road crashes being recorded in the area.

Abdulkarem also blamed the closure of some commercial banks in the area for the delay in the take-off of the driver's licence issuance office in the area. "In spite of the availability of a well equipped and functional licensing centre in Omu-Aran, the non-availability of branches of commercial banks is slowing down the process.

"The situation, whereby, some of the prospective licence- seekers still have to travel to Ilorin to effect payment for the document is disheartening," he said. Abdulkareem, therefore, urged the authorities of the commercial banks to re-open their branches in Omu-Aran in the interest of the people of the community.

NAN reports that the incessant attacks on commercial banks operating in the area from 2014 till date led to some commercial banks to close their branches in Omu-Aran and Offa.