advertisement

Driver’s Licence: Lagos setting a dangerous precedent – FRSC

By Ademola Oni, Abeokuta

The Zonal Commander, Zone 2, Federal Road Safety Commission, Mr. Chike Nwaka, has described as a dangerous precedent, the plan by the Lagos State Government to issue driver’s licence to motorists in the state.

advertisement

Nwaka said the move was not only a big hurdle to the desire to enforce a safe driving culture but a threat to national security.

In an interview with newsmen after his familiarisation visit to the Ogun State Sector Command in Abeokuta on Wednesday, he explained that the motive behind the plan of the state was essentially monetary.

He warned that such motivation could snowball into other states agitating for the right to the issuance of such “a sensitive document.”

He said, “They (Lagos) are only trying to create problems for the masses and the motoring public. They want to set a precedent that will snowball into other states trying to have their own licence.

“It’s like they see this venture as a means of revenue generation. The Driver’s Licence is not just for revenue generation; it is for security. It is also to regulate motoring.”

He said motorists would be in a dilemma driving in Lagos without being able to drive on federal roads in the city.

“If such drivers with the Lagos licence drive on federal roads or drive to Ogun State, we will impound their vehicles,” said Nwaka, who urged the Lagos State Government to strengthen its support for the commission like other states to ensure more decent driving culture.

The acting Head of Operations, FRSC, Ogun State, Mrs. Kikelomo Alao, told the visitor that the command had been operating with only one patrol vehicle while another one had been grounded.

Alao said the absence of patrol vans, ambulance and towing trucks had hampered the effectiveness of the command.

Nwaka noted that for there to be significant improvement in motoring on the nation’s roads, the federal, states and the local governments needed to forge a strong cooperation among themselves.

The zonal commander said, “This work cannot be for just one person.

“The other day, the Ogun State Government gave the commission about 12 motorbikes. The Governor realised that it is important for us to work together always even though the state has an outfit that also controls traffic. The more the merrier.

“But where we are pulling in our own way, is it anarchy that we are looking for?”

Nwaka added that Nigerians should realise that the vehicle number plates and the driver’s licence were security-based elements which the FRSC was not ready to compromise.