A Nigerian woman has cried out on Facebook after her car was impounded by the FRSC for using google maps.
Mary Ikoku
Media personality, Mary Ikoku has lamented on social media after men of the Federal Road Safety Corps impounded her car for using Google maps.
Narrating the sad incident, Ikoku wrote:
"Wow! We still have a lot of surprises in this yulitide. Men of the Federal Road Safety Corps have just impounded my car. Asked what's my offence, they said, show me your phone and I turned my phone to him, and the guy said you are under arrest for driving with the aid of Google map on your mobile phones. Wawu!! I'm like seriously!! He said, madam it is a serious traffic offence. I asked to see the team lead, their team lead came and after hearing fro his collegue and me said, "the law forbids motorists from using mobile phones in any form while driving, as it can lead to accident". I can see you are using Google map on your phone. Madam it is distractive so follow us to our office.
This is unbelievable!! You see ba, I have an emergency and have requested for a ticket so I can deal with this later but they said No. I must drive to their office. Well ladies and gentlemen, I've been given a ticket of N4000 payable to Remita my offence is using GPS. They have my car and my keys and my drivers license. When I'm done paying to remita then I will be checked into national hospital for mental examination for using GPS while driving. The real mad folks are those who believe is an offence to drive with Google map. They called Google map a distraction. So if you are driving in Abuja, ditch the GPS and drive on, get to middle of the road stop and ask any road safety or traffic warder thus; oga where is the direction to Apo, Asokoro or just any where you are going. You don't need direction map. The worst kind of illiteracy is the illiteracy of a government.
Please if you have an opportunity to live in a saner place, now is the time to weigh your options and check out. A lot of things don't make sense here."
Following the outcry stirred by the incident, she posted an update that read:
"Update on the Road Safety saga: The matter has been resolved and my car has been released to me. God bless those who stepped in. Let me use this time to thank everyone who made a call or two. Thank you for not calling Nigeria a zoo out of provocation lol. Believe it, use of phone while driving whether is for Google map or map Google is an offence. The rebuttal from the corps marshal is there. Please read it again and be guided."
See the update below: