Computerised vehicle testing is here to stay – Director, FCT DRTS

What have you been able to do on the issue of corruption and production of fake driver’s license? I always tell officers anytime we have an in-house training that we can’t enforce and extort. We are rebranding with the view of making our work more transparent and we are appealing to our motoring public to […]

What have you been able to do on the issue of corruption and production of fake driver’s license?
I always tell officers anytime we have an in-house training that we can’t enforce and extort. We are rebranding with the view of making our work more transparent and we are appealing to our motoring public to desist from offering and giving bribes to the officers of DRTS. You can also report anybody that asks you for bribe to my office. Corruption is a two-way thing, if there is no giver, there will not be a receiver. Faking of driver’s license is a thing of the past because six additional driver’s license information centers are coming onboard in conjunction with the Federal Road Safety Commission. They are in Kugbo, Karshi, Apo, Lugbe, Kuje and Bwari. This is the first phase, we are doing this because I want better services delivery and to put a stop to fakery. The centres will help to create direct contact and free access.
Imagine a situation where people who are living in Gwagwalada will have to come all the way to Mabushi to get their vehicle numbers and papers. That is why we created these centres, to reduce congestion and stress for every FCT resident.
There have been accusations of arrogance and high handedness especially among your staff, what’s your take on this?
This is just to call a dog a bad name in order to hang it. If I have to be everywhere, why do we have officers? I don’t want to take anybody’s job. I should mentor people and everybody has clear cut out schedule of duties. I don’t look at public officers and the office, but I must tell you that I attend to officers. I have an open door policy. There is nothing I can tell you about my sincerity, the kind of idleness I saw in this place when I resumed office was overwhelming. I have truly maintained an open door policy and whoever has to see me will have reason to see me in my office with discussion that will improve the directorate. For instance, there was a time when an officer was wounded and a demonstration ensued, the supervisory officer wanted to address them but they refused to see him and demanded that they must see me to address them.
I understand that managing people is a very difficult task, assuming we have resources, I would love to reorientate these people by sending them to FRSC training school. We are looking inwards to see how we can improve the place. All I have been trying to do is to avoid distraction. It is difficult to change human beings. Public service requires empathy and human servicing. The operatives are the gate keeper of the institution; their conduct will rub off on the institution. My own system is to bequeath society a Directorate of Road Transport Services that is people friendly approach to work and being sympathetic without antagonising the public.
How do you handle the issue of officer’s harassment by motorists?
Officers who were harassed were stabilised, my assistant director was in touch with the latest victim and we eventually paid part of the bills he presented. We have been talking to our taskforce and staff especially their various team leaders and commanders to avoid overzealousness and high handedness. That’s how we are engaging our staff to reduce harassment.
On Taskforce; whoever that is managing the place will have to be more people-oriented. We are ensuring that they have their identification cards and dress in complete uniforms but harassment is a two-way thing. Drivers brutalise our staff, beat up our staff and maim them. We have been talking to our staff and motorists on how to work harmoniously together.
How do you see the consistent controversy surrounding VIO computerised inspection scheme?
As far as I am concerned, I do not see any controversial project. The scheme was established to ensure that vehicles that ply in FCT are road worthy. It was established after due process was followed. We have officers permanently posted in the sites at Kugbo and Kubwa. It is an idea whose time has come. Its timely, it’s progressive and forward looking. In Ghana, the project has succeeded. We cannot continue using manual ways to examine vehicle when the world has gone ICT. These days we are seeing computerised cars and vehicles that have no drivers. The world has gone far and we must have to go with the trend. We cannot afford to be left out on the trend. For instance, somebody who bought a 2015 car yet could not test the car.
People should do things the right way in this country, we should move as the technology is moving so that we can get things done rightly. Even drivers’ license is computerised, vehicle registration is computerised. At the end of the day, we share all these information with stakeholders for robust and good transport system in Nigeria and enforcement will be easier.