VIOs Hold 3 Day annual Conference in Kogi, Safety, security, revenue top agenda.
Idris Ahmed, Lokoja.
The Conference of Directors and Chief Traffic Officers have called on the Federal and state Governments to digitalise the operations of the Road Traffic administration to meet international best practices.
The National Conference is an annual event that brings together critical stakeholders in Motor vehicle Administration and Road Traffic safety officials in Nigeria to deliberate on emerging issues with a bid to work out solutions to noticeable challenges.
The Conference with the theme “Leveraging on technology as a tool for Motor traffic administration to enhance road traffic safety, security and revenue” is drawing the attention of relevant stakeholders to the fact the world is moving on a fast track using technology to guarantee security , safety on the roads and revenue generation for the states.
In his welcome address, the National Chairman, Conference of Directors Road Traffic Officers(VIOs) of the federation, Engineer Paul U Bepeh said the transportation sector is growing with increasing demands for technological driven infrastructure and effective regulation that will ensure safety on the roads and the highways.
Engineer Bepeh lamented that road traffic rules were being violated with impunity which he said have led to road crashes and loss of lives.
He advised that the matter of technology should be taken with utmost seriousness in traffic management agencies and public authorities, which was the reason for this year’s conference.
He noted that the call to computerise the operations of road traffic management subsector has become necessary in order to enhance efficiency for the protection of lives and properties on the roads
The Conference noted that the automation of their operations will ensure seamless discharge of their mandates thereby blocking leakages in revenue generation and ensure that safety and security of motorists are guaranteed as most crimes are perpetuated through the roads.
Speaking to Journalists, the Chief Vehicle Inspection Officer of Kogi state Engr. Ahmed Enesi Dauda commended Gov. Yahaya Bello for creating enabling environment for the hosting of 2022 edition in the state.
He equally applauded him for being among the first state Governors to have digitalised the operations of VIOs in their states which has reduced the perpetuation of crimes on the roads and blocking of revenue leakages.
The Chief VIO, Ahmed, noted that as part of the constitutional responsibilities transportation enforcement agencies should take charge of road traffic activities and make sure that all motors plying the roads are road worthy and drivers appropriately licensed to drive the type of vehicles they are driving.
He added that they are responsible for issuance of drivers license and ensure that they are up to date in conjunction with some agencies of Government.
Allaying fears of the some Agencies duplicating their functions, he said other agencies are complementing their efforts as there is no friction whatsoever, provided the agencies stick to their constitutional mandate.
According to him, Kogi state is a rendezvous of this country where motorists from the North and South pass through hence , the need for other agencies to assist in the traffic control and management.
” So, if we have an Agency trying to complement our efforts, we welcome it. We have been surviving without friction with other agencies, such as Road Safety Corps and Kogi Transport Management Agency . ( KOTRAMA)
” We have our mandate, which is all about vehicles road worthiness and drivers to be appropriately licensed to drive particular vehicles.
” Vehicles Inspection Service is a Department in the ministry of Transportation and from the background of Vehicles Inspection ,from the colonial era to this dispensation, we have been instituted by the constitution to perform the role.
We have been doing our jobs right from when Nigeria was a three regions to 12, 19, and now 36 States and Abuja” Dauda revealed.
