Highway Protection
My brother, pal and colleague, Kayode Olagunju breast the tape prior to me. He crafted a ravishing piece captioned, ’The closing dance with Corps Marshal Dauda Biu’’. Sadly, I used to be now not privileged to have a dance with him prior to his loss of life. I’ve due to this fact selected, “My closing salute to Dauda Biu,” because the caption for my expensive boss who kissed mom earth good-bye at the night time of Sunday,11 October,2026.
On that day, we misplaced probably the most quiet developers of the Federal Highway Protection Corps. Some have described him as a gem. To others, he was once a person who represented justice and equity. But to others, he was once a pacesetter who created vacancies for promotion when there was once none. A pacesetter who gave appointments with out realizing the appointees. A pacesetter whose tenure, regardless that transient, was once outstanding and remarkable as he supposed smartly. A unprecedented chief.
Dauda Biu was once the chief who sought to increase the succeed in of the Corps as a plank for bettering the Corps’ efficiency in all ramifications. That singular determination resulted in the introduction of a Unit in my neighborhood known as Amasiri in Afikpo North Native Executive of Ebonyi State, in addition to in different communities. Dauda’s tenure as Corps Marshal was once outstanding and remarkable. His brief spell introduced smiles to the faces of workforce via promotions and different welfare tools.
I used to be privileged to be his spokesperson, even though my appointment was once flavored via mini-drama, paying homage to Dauda Biu and his distinctive management taste. I recall being conscripted via him to honour a call for participation on the Nationwide Meeting. At some point of private advent, a member who heard my title briefly requested me why ‘Oga Driving force’, an interactive highway protection programme on Radio, was once not being aired. My boss instantly minimize in via informing the committee that it’ll be reactivated, a remark that shocked me since he had by no means proven any passion within the programme, a minimum of to my wisdom.
Once we arrived on the nationwide headquarters, there have been whispers that I can be leaving the operations division the place I used to be heading, in appearing capability after the retirement of Deputy Corps Marshal Kayode Fanola, my former boss. I disregarded the whisper just for a proper deployment from the operations division to the Public Schooling workplace as head was once revealed. I took over instantly in January 2024.Whilst nonetheless brooding about the explanation for my deployment, he summoned me with a directive to convey again Oga Driving force, which to me was once a testomony that he was once a quiet fan. That programme recently runs at the FRSC Nationwide Visitors Radio,107.1FM, Abuja,as his legacy.
Slightly 3 months after assumption, I gained the Nigerian Institute of Public Family members Spokesperson Award as Exceptional Safety Spokesperson (Non-military). At the day I introduced the Award and certificates to him, I used to be shocked at his pleasure for the award to be captured and posted at the Corps website online. He instantly directed the photographers to be summoned to seize us conserving onto the award and certificates which demonstrated his appreciation for excellence despite the fact that he didn’t monetize the thrill. I saluted him in acknowledgement of his monetary sponsorship of my participation which made the award conceivable.
I held that workplace in short prior to his go out however because the spokesperson, who labored with him prior to his go out, Dauda Biu was once molded otherwise from all who held forth prior to him. Dauda Biu didn’t flaunt himself however affected the Corps inside the brief length of his tenure. No marvel, the loss of life of this former Corps Marshal of the Federal Highway Protection Corps (FRSC), was once met with grief around the Corps the place he served for over 3 a long time, a number of the large and small from his house constituency, and a number of the many workforce who knew him as each colleague and boss.
These days, I rejoice a lifetime of provider to humanity and nation, in addition to loyalty to the Corps. Biu was once born in 1964 in Sabon Gari, Zaria, Kaduna State and held the standard name of Jagaban Sabon Gari. He earned a Grasp of Industry Management stage from Ahmadu Bello College, Zaria, and was once a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Nationwide Accountants. He joined the FRSC in 1988 as a pioneer workforce. He rose in the course of the ranks, serving as Assistant Corps Marshal accountable for Finance and Accounts in 2014 prior to turning into Deputy Corps Marshal in 2016. He was once a number of the egg heads who constructed the street protection gadget in Nigeria.
He was once the sheriff on the financé and accounts division for approximately 8 years. In July 2022, President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Biu Performing Corps Marshal following the retirement of Boboye Oyeyemi and later as substantive Corps Marshal and Leader Government Officer from 23 December 2022, thus turning into the 7th substantive head of the FRSC who held sway between July 2022 to Might 2024.
I recall his first deal with to workforce the place he pledged to uphold the Corps’ mandate and certainly inside the brief spell, he proved himself worthy of his guarantees as captured via workforce, buddies in addition to his neighborhood who demonstrated their love for him via the teeming crowd that attended his ultimate burial ceremony to mention good-bye. Right through his tenure, Biu wielded the large stick towards reckless drivers and confirmed his compassion for workforce who become sufferers of such recklessness.
His legacies lie within the Company he helped to construct. The officials whose profession he resuscitated via promotions that raised morale. His welfare plans in spite of positive odds, that have been well timed. His admiration for the use of the Radio as a platform for attaining the Corps publics stood tall. For being a pacesetter who dared to be other, who was once now not loud however efficient and impactful, I once more provide you with my ultimate salute. Biu is survived via a spouse and 5 kids. To them I be offering my inner most condolences. I pray for Almighty Allah’s convenience for his circle of relatives. The country. The Corps. Pals. Stakeholders. Might Almighty Allah forgive his shortcomings and settle for his just right deeds. Relaxation in peace, Corps Marshal Dauda Biu.