FRSC and fake driver’s licence brouhaha

It was in February 1988 that the Federal Government created the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) was created through Decree No. 45 of 1988, as amended by Decree 35 of 1992 referred to in the statute books as the FRSC Act cap 141 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN). The Act was passed by […]

It was in February 1988 that the Federal Government created the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) was created through Decree No. 45 of 1988, as amended by Decree 35 of 1992 referred to in the statute books as the FRSC Act cap 141 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN).
The Act was passed by the National Assembly as Federal Road Safety Commission (establishment) Act 2007. The functions of the Commission are generally to make the highway safe for motorists and other road users.
In particular, the Commission is charged with the responsibilities of clearing obstruction on any part of the highway; educating drivers, motorists and other members of the public, generally on the proper use of the highways. It is also responsible for designing and producing the driver’s license to be used by various categories of vehicle operators.
Other functions include, determining from time to time, the requirements to be satisfied by an applicant for a driver’s licence, designing and producing vehicle number plates.
Others include standardisation of highway traffic codes, giving prompt attention and care to victims of accidents, among other things.
In exercise of these functions, members of the Commission have powers to arrest and prosecute persons suspected of having committed any traffic offence.
But in sharp contrast to the provision establishing the Commission, some of its members at the state sector commands engage themselves in the issuance of fake driver’s licence to unsuspecting motorists.
The questions many now ask is: how can motorists distinguish between fake and genuine licences?
But to the surprise of the victims of such racketeering, instead of the commission to beam its searchlight inward to fish out the perpetrators of the crime, it charges the victims.
This is the exact situation in which I found myself recently. I applied for a renewal of my license in Jigawa State sector command but after paying all the charges as stipulated by law, I was issued with a fake licence.
Since then, it has been the licence that I always presented upon demand by all security agencies in the course of my travelling across the country and in banking transactions. I was never told that the document is a fake one.
In all my encounters with the officials of the Commission on the roads there was never a time I was not cleared to carry on.
It was early this week in Abuja, when men of the FRSC at Berger Roundabout stopped me and asked for my licence which I confidently presented to them. To my chagrin, the officer in charge of the unit, looked at me and said: “My friend your driver’s licence is FAKE”. I was shocked on hearing the word fake.
I told him I renewed it in Jigawa State sector command. Again, he asked: “Can you link me up with the officer that renewed it for you?” I called the officer and gave him the phone upon which they spoke.
At last, an officer from the Commission told me that they would allow me to go but the so-called fake document belonging to me was ceased. He directed me to their Abuja office so that I can go for a new one.
What annoyed me the most was the wasting of my quality hours, through debating on the so-called FAKE licence. I kept wondering how officials from other states could not detect for all this while that I was carrying a fake licence.
Does that mean they don’t know their job or they deliberately refused to inform me that I was carrying a fake document?
I told the FRSC official in Abuja that I am an informed citizen of this country who knows his right and I will not allow myself to be duped by given. I told him that as a journalist, I will never burry this issue so that those involved will be brought to book.
I also assured the officer that I will petition EFCC, ICPC and all anti-corruption bodies and copy same to President Muhamamadu Buhari, Honourable Minster of Information, IGP, FRSC Corps Marshal, Jigawa Sector command, Nigeria Union of Journalists, challenging Jigawa State FRSC sector command for issuing me a fake drivers’ licence.
Aliyu Dangida is a journalist in Jigawa State and can be reached at [email protected] or 08033195532.