Ensuring sanity on our roads

Recently, the Corps Marshall of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Mr. Boboye Oyeyemi, while presenting the investigation report into the auto crash that killed the Minister of State for Labour, Mr James Ocholi, said the data of the driver of the crashed vehicle could not be found on the FRSC website. The implication of […]

Recently, the Corps Marshall of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Mr. Boboye Oyeyemi, while presenting the investigation report into the auto crash that killed the Minister of State for Labour, Mr James Ocholi, said the data of the driver of the crashed vehicle could not be found on the FRSC website. The implication of this finding is that the driver might have been carrying a fake driver’s license or none at all. It is a source of concern that majority of Nigerians are carrying fake driver’s license, just as many never went through a driving test before getting their licenses.
Some years back when I paid a visit to the Vehicle Inspection Office at Mabushi, in Abuja, a tout operating outside the office approached me, offering to get me a driver’s license at a fee. Although my mission to the office was not to get a license, I was curious to find out whether she was collaborating with officials of the VIO. The tout took me into the VIO office and introduced me to one of the officials.
It would be recalled that a few weeks ago the Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, sacked the entire VIO office in the state. There is a need for federal authorities, especially the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Mohammed Bello, to borrow a leaf from the Kaduna State governor.
The traffic situation in the Federal Capital Territory FCT is quite chaotic as most highways in the territory have been converted into emergency motor parks just as many drivers do not obey traffic rules. At Area 1 roundabout, a huge motor park has been created by commercial motorists, who pick up passengers right on the road.  Jabi Park is an eyesore as the park has the resemblance of a 19th century motor park.  Within the Jabi Motor Park, motorists park their vehicles indiscriminately. The drivers also park outside the designated space, thereby preventing free flow of traffic. The ever present traffic gridlock on the Abuja-Keffi highway has persisted for so many years, despite the fact that it is a major route into the Federal Capital Territory.
There is the need for President Muhammadu Buhari to order a general overhaul of the FRSC. This should be conducted by subjecting every official of the commission to a rigorous driving test. This is necessary because an official cannot enforce a law which he or she does not understand. The process of issuing driver’s license in the country must also be looked into, because majority of drivers in Nigeria are carrying fake licenses and many who have the authentic ones were never subjected to any driving test. Government must do something urgent to ensure sanity on our roads.
By Peter Inalegwu
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