My Last Salute To Dauda Biu

Road Safety

My brother, friend and colleague, Kayode Olagunju breast the tape before me. He crafted a beautiful piece captioned, ’The last dance with Corps Marshal Dauda Biu’’. Unfortunately, I was not privileged to have a dance with him before his demise. I have therefore chosen, “My last salute to Dauda Biu,” as the caption for my dear boss who kissed mother earth goodbye on the evening of Sunday,11 October,2026.

On that day, we lost one of the quiet builders of the Federal Road Safety Corps. Some have described him as a gem. To others, he was a man who represented justice and fairness. Yet to others, he was a leader who created vacancies for promotion when there was none. A leader who gave appointments without knowing the appointees. A leader whose tenure, though brief, was remarkable and outstanding as he meant well. A rare leader.

Dauda Biu was the leader who sought to expand the reach of the Corps as a plank for improving the Corps’ performance in all ramifications. That singular decision led to the creation of a Unit in my community called Amasiri in Afikpo North Local Government of Ebonyi State, as well as in other communities. Dauda’s tenure as Corps Marshal was remarkable and outstanding. His short spell brought smiles to the faces of staff through promotions and other welfare instruments.

I was privileged to be his spokesperson, although my appointment was flavored by mini-drama, reminiscent of Dauda Biu and his unique leadership style. I recall being conscripted by him to honour an invitation at the National Assembly. In the course of personal introduction, a member who heard my name quickly asked me why ‘Oga Driver’, an interactive road safety programme on Radio, was no longer being aired. My boss immediately cut in by informing the committee that it will be reactivated, a comment that stunned me since he had never shown any interest in the programme, at least to my knowledge.

When we arrived at the national headquarters, there were whispers that I will be leaving the operations department where I was heading, in acting capacity after the retirement of Deputy Corps Marshal Kayode Fanola, my former boss. I dismissed the whisper only for a formal deployment from the operations department to the Public Education office as head was published. I took over immediately in January 2024.While still pondering the rationale for my deployment, he summoned me with a directive to bring back Oga Driver, which to me was a testament that he was a quiet fan. That programme currently runs on the FRSC National Traffic Radio,107.1FM, Abuja,as his legacy.

Barely three months after assumption, I won the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations Spokesperson Award as Outstanding Security Spokesperson (Non-military). On the day I presented the Award and certificate to him, I was stunned at his excitement for the award to be captured and posted on the Corps website. He immediately directed the photographers to be summoned to capture us holding onto the award and certificate which demonstrated his appreciation for excellence even though he did not monetize the excitement. I saluted him in acknowledgement of his financial sponsorship of my participation which made the award possible.

I held that office briefly before his exit but as the spokesperson, who worked with him before his exit, Dauda Biu was molded differently from all who held forth before him. Dauda Biu did not flaunt himself but affected the Corps within the short period of his tenure. No wonder, the death of this former Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), was met with grief across the Corps where he served for over three decades, among the big and small from his home constituency, and among the many staff who knew him as both colleague and boss.

Today, I celebrate a life of service to humanity and country, as well as loyalty to the Corps. Biu was born in 1964 in Sabon Gari, Zaria, Kaduna State and held the traditional title of Jagaban Sabon Gari. He earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and was a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of National Accountants. He joined the FRSC in 1988 as a pioneer staff. He rose through the ranks, serving as Assistant Corps Marshal in charge of Finance and Accounts in 2014 before becoming Deputy Corps Marshal in 2016. He was among the egg heads who built the road safety system in Nigeria.

He was the sheriff at the financé and accounts department for about eight years. In July 2022, President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Biu Acting Corps Marshal following the retirement of Boboye Oyeyemi and later as substantive Corps Marshal and Chief Executive Officer from 23 December 2022, thus becoming the seventh substantive head of the FRSC who held sway between July 2022 to May 2024.

I recall his first address to staff where he pledged to uphold the Corps’ mandate and indeed within the short spell, he proved himself worthy of his promises as captured by staff, friends as well as his community who demonstrated their love for him by the teeming crowd that attended his final burial rite to say goodbye. During his tenure, Biu wielded the big stick against reckless drivers and showed his compassion for staff who became victims of such recklessness.

His legacies lie in the Agency he helped to build. The officers whose career he resuscitated through promotions that raised morale. His welfare plans despite certain odds, which were timely. His admiration for using the Radio as a platform for reaching the Corps publics stood tall. For being a leader who dared to be different, who was not loud but effective and impactful, I again give you my final salute. Biu is survived by a wife and five children. To them I offer my deepest condolences. I pray for Almighty Allah’s comfort for his family. The nation. The Corps. Friends. Stakeholders. May Almighty Allah forgive his shortcomings and accept his good deeds. Rest in peace, Corps Marshal Dauda Biu.