By our reporter
The many pitfalls of Nigeria’s motor vehicle administration system and ways to reposition same took centrestage today at the commencement of a two-day gathering of Directors of Vehicle Inspection Offices (VIOs) and Chief Traffic Officers from the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Abuja.
From early in the morning, the atmosphere at the AA Hotel, Mabushi, venue of the event was buzzing as vehicle inspection personnel in their characteristic white top attire virtually took over the premises.
The VIO bosses converged on the nation’s capital for their annual national conference under the theme ‘Repositioning Motor Vehicle Administration For Safer Roads: Challenges and The Way Forward’.
In his welcome address, Director, FCT Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS), Alhaji Abubakar Abdullahi Yeldu, expressed delight that FCT is hosting “this important gathering of professionals whose responsibilities are central to motor vehicle administration, road safety and the orderly management of road transport across Nigeria.”
Alhaji Yeldu told the gathering that the conference was coming at “a critical time” when road traffic safety continues to face serious challenges even as the authority and effectiveness of enforcement institutions across the country appear increasingly weakened.
The Director added: “The growing hostility, misinformation and campaigns of violence directed at road traffic enforcement personnel are matters of grave concern.
“When officers responsible for ensuring compliance operate under intimidation and threats, the consequences may extend beyond the institutions to the highways, where recklessness, indiscipline and disregard for traffic regulations put innocent lives at risk.”
Acknowledging the need for professionalism, transparency and accountability among road traffic enforcement officers, Alhaji Yeldu warned that no society can sustain road safety “if those entrusted with enforcing established standards are consistently undermined or prevented from performing their lawful duties.”
The situation, the Director noted, calls for urgent, coordinated and courageous action by governments at all levels.
He urged state governments to discard the trend where vehicle inspection and proper driver testing and licensing “are not merely administrative procedures or revenue-generating activities.”
Proffering a solution, Yeldu implored state governments to “make deliberate investments” in inspection facilities, personnel development, modern technology, and effective regulatory systems.”
He sought clear standards, the strengthening of institutional capacity and adoption of lawful, evidence-based and accountable enforcement strategies.
Welcoming the aptness of the conference theme, the Director urged participants to use the conference to move beyond complaints and develop recommendations to produce measurable improvements in the different states and FCT.
Also speaking, FCT Mandate Secretary for Transportation, Barr. Chinedu Elechi, described road infrastructure as the backbone of community in the country.
Elechi said government has a duty to ensure safe roads and roadworthy vehicles for society’s safety.
He tasked participants to translate road policy to practice for public safety.
Delivering his keynote address, Dr. (Engr.) Emmanuel Oche John, in a thought-provoking presentation, noted that transport is the lifewire of any economy, saying it is the linkage between people and opportunities.
Quoting data, Dr. John said while the country’s road authorities declared a death toll of about 5000 from road accidents yearly, the World Health Organization (WHO) and international community believe that about 39,000 deaths occur on our roads within same period.
Warning strongly against the prevailing attitude by state governments which view motor vehicle administration as being primarily a revenue-generating matter, Dr. John insisted that this is not the focus of the policy, saying that it must not be allowed to continue.
Thumbing down Nigeria’s vehicle administration system, he stressed that it was not in tune with modern technological processes.
He referred to countries where traffic and road offences are not physically accounted for immediately by offenders, with the system subsequently freezing their bank accounts and cutting them off from any financial transactions in the economy till they pay their fines.
Nigeria, he noted, does not have similar process, resulting to physical altercations, even brawls sometimes, between the public and road officers.
Urging governments to modernize their processes using hi-tech, as obtains even in nearby Ghana and Morocco, Dr. John said it was a no-brainer that if Nigeria wants saner road safety and enhanced, functional motor vehicle administration system, it must jettison the current obsolete processes and embrace ultramodern technology, especially in these days of electric vehicles, e-hailing and others.
At the event, goodwill messages came from some global organizations and personalities.
Also, awards were given to Katsina state Governor Dikko Radda; FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike; and few others.
*PHOTO CAPTION: L-R: Alhaji Yeldu, and Barrister Elechi… today, at the event.
