FRSC, revenue generation and new number plate (II)

Between 2011, when the scheme commenced, till date, there is now a structured vehicle data base arising from the new number plate and a biometric-based driver’s licence, of which the Italian Police, in a letter to FRSC, acknowledged as being of a higher standard than most European countries’ driver’s licence.  As at today, due to […]

Between 2011, when the scheme commenced, till date, there is now a structured vehicle data base arising from the new number plate and a biometric-based driver’s licence, of which the Italian Police, in a letter to FRSC, acknowledged as being of a higher standard than most European countries’ driver’s licence.  As at today, due to the features introduced in the upgraded licensing scheme, Nigeria secured reciprocity with six European countries and the state of Mary-land in the USA whereby holders of the new Nigeria drivers licence can replace same with the drivers’ licences of these six European countries and the state of Mary-land. These developments are in tandem with the vision of the FRSC management to restore the integrity of the drivers’ licence and make it acceptable worldwide in keeping with the template of FRSC founding fathers. Admittedly, there have been challenges, particularly in the area of network to facilitate seamless processing and issuance. The challenges were further compounded by the almost one year stoppage by the National Assembly, which distorted the work flow and plans, although efforts are on to bring it back on track.  On the issue of deadline for commencement, the responsibilities rest on the Joint Tax Board which is presently reconsidering the September deadline.
 Further to the resolve to entrench safety at all levels, road safety studies have been incorporated by the National Council on Education and approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), and today, primary and secondary school pupils would be availed of an educational strategy that would lead to a culture change in the future.  The absence of regulatory frame-work for many facets of the road safety sector has been addressed by the introduction of standard school bus adopted by the National Council on Education; introduction of a Driving School Standardisation Programme (DSSP) that has led to the certification of 534 schools, creating employment for instructors and currently having about 48,000 students in driving schools around the country; a national call center, with a toll-free number 122, which has received to date 1,473 calls and responded to these calls, saving 43,854 RTC victims rescued alive in 2012. As at end of June 2013, FRSC has rescued alive a total of 24,239 RTC victims, which might have died if there were no FRSC response. 
Patrol vehicles, the main tools of operation in FRSC, which as at 2007, was about 170, has grown to over 454.  In conjunction with FERMA, the Corps has set up about 18 road side clinics, which in 2012, received and treated  free of charge  12,314  victims comprising of 4,725 number of crash victims, and another 7.589 medical cases involving concerned road users and neighbouring communities. In a similar vein, in 2011, a total of 12,212 categories of emergencies were treated free of charge at FRSC Road Side Clinics.
 In appreciation of FRSC efforts despite logistics constraints, the first World Bank funded Safe Corridor project, after delivering a country capacity review on road safety, procured 16 patrol vehicles, 24 bikes, 6 single carriage ambulances and delivered capacity building programme that has taken Road Safety from a rule of the thumb road traffic control organization to a modern road safety administration that encompasses safety engineering, road safety audit, data driven road safety education, scientific crash investigation, of which the report forwarded to relevant government institutions like the Federal Ministry of Works and FERMA, for remedial actions, are on the FRSC website. 
 In 2011, FRSC conducted 18 road safety audits, while 39 were conducted on 9,292 km of roads in 2012.  Also 13 reports containing recommendations were forwarded to FERMA and FMW.  In 2011, there were 12 recommendations made, which included 2 to FERMA, 3 to FMW, 1 to SGF and 3 to relevant states. While in 2012, 21 recommendations were made, with 6 forwarded to FERMA, 9 to FMW, 3 to FCTA and 3 to other relevant states. A total of 138 road traffic crashes were investigated in 2011, and 137 in 2012.
 The Road Transport Safety Standardisation Scheme, which is designed to regulate the activities of fleet owners and leading to certification and grading of fleet owners in Nigeria has remained a reference point in Africa.  FRSC activities led to an invitation by the Pope for the Corps to advise the Papacy on road safety in 2010; a select high profile group of nations comprising G-8 countries and representatives from South America, Middle East and Asia, called The Friends of The Decade of Action, has Nigeria in that 15-Nation group, and presently, FRSC is President of West African Road Safety Organization, which has adopted Nigeria Driver’s Licence and Vehicle registration standards under the ECOWAS Regional Vehicle Administration Information System (RVAIS).
 The Federal Road Safety Commission’s Bold Initiative Is Paying Off as the World Bank has endorsed the FRSC model for sub-Saharan Africa, while, Sierra Leone and some other countries are seeking technical support from the FRSC to set up their own lead agency in traffic management. 
Having detailed all of the above, the FRSC is not resting on its oars. Last Wednesday and in recognition of the increasing spate of speed-related crashes, the second and final stakeholder’s forum to fine-tune the implementation of speed limiting devices was held in the Federal Capital Territory with similar platforms planned for the 36 States.
Concluded