The new vehicle licensing scheme and its controversies

As Dr Moses Tedheke says in his book, “Building a Nation,” any nation that is unable to determine the accurate census of its citizens is yet prepared to face the challenges of nation building. We can equally add that “any nation that is incapable of determining the accurate record of its drivers and vehicles is […]

As Dr Moses Tedheke says in his book, “Building a Nation,” any nation that is unable to determine the accurate census of its citizens is yet prepared to face the challenges of nation building. We can equally add that “any nation that is incapable of determining the accurate record of its drivers and vehicles is yet prepared to face the challenges of campaign against road traffic crashes and other violent crimes.” And as the Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Osita Chidoka, stressed consistently in defense of his policies on the restoration of the integrity of the licensing system of the country, “There is a nexus between the rising cases of road traffic crashes and other violent deaths that are vehicle- based and the nation’s faulty licensing system. Our campaign against road carnage must therefore begin with getting our licensing system right.”

It is against this background that one must give credit to Professor Wole Soyinka and Dr Olu Agunloye, who, as the Chairman of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and Corps Marshal, respectively, took proactive measures to address this challenge through computerized licensing system in the National Uniform Licensing Scheme (NULS) launched in 1990. The novelty of the scheme in managing our peculiar federalism which critics of uniform licensing scheme continued to downplay in their analysis is that, while the state governments still retain the powers of issuing the licenses, FRSC only serves as the custodian of the records by designing and standardizing the issuance system with emphasis on safety features. That is why even as the licenses are printed by the FRSC, the powers to test the drivers and collect the necessary revenue are exercised by the relevant agents of the state governments as evidenced in the licenses which clearly show the states where they are produced as the issuing authority.

The problem is that, over the years, there have not been commensurate investments especially in information and communication technology (ICT) in the scheme to consistently upgrade and update it in line with developments in technology. This led to a situation whereby some syndicates hijacked the same technological platform to engage in parallel production of the same licenses which are indiscriminately issued to unsuspecting members of the public across the country. Consequently, while one might be holding a license that appears the same with the genuine one, their records were not on FRSC’s database; and this apathy is accentuated by the fact that there were no platforms available to differentiate the fake from the genuine ones. The situation degenerated to a level whereby, as at June 2007, it was discovered that of the over two million drivers’ licenses in circulation in the country only the records of about 200,000 were on the FRSC’s database.

It is in line with this that a decision was taken to embark on “System Upgrade” of the scheme, after comprehensive studies on the way forward had been painstakingly carried out. And to give impetus to these efforts, the National Economic Council (NEC) gave its nod to the reform, while the Federal Executive Council (FEC) at one of its sittings last year adopted the new licenses as national security document.

That was why Mr President agreed to personally commission the project at the FRSC national headquarters, Abuja, last month. He stated in his commissioning address: “Since the last bombing episode on October 1, I had directed the hastening of efforts to build a credible database of drivers and vehicles in order to improve public safety. The importance of this project is reaffirmed by the use of vehicles in the conduct of the recent bombing episodes.

“It is in this regards that government is pleased that the FRSC has delivered on its promise to introduce a credible driver’s license that meets international standards. This is a positive development which demonstrates FRSC’s commitment to the government’s transformation agenda and a testimony that we can get it right in this country,” he stated.

I am thus appalled by the fact that people whose support are strategic to the success of this national project aimed at resolving some security challenges in the country are being influenced by the information provided them by the same syndicates that have undermined the old system. Apart from using subtle means to frustrate the project, some of such syndicates have in fact, resorted to media campaigns to misinform and incite unsuspecting members of the public, using the financial implications of the change to the vehicle owners as the basis of their augments. But while accepting their stand against the project as a natural reaction of those whose means of livelihood is being threatened, it would be a disservice to innocent Nigerians to allow those opinion to dominate the national consciousness.

At this period, what is required of all Nigerians is to put their personal interests aside and give overwhelming support to this project in order to make it a huge national success for the safety and security of all Nigerians and the pride of citizens yet unborn.

Abdullahi lives in Abuja and can be reached on [email protected].