In a bid to mitigate huge identity fraud on the issuance of National Drivers License, the Nigeria Transportation Commissioners Forum (NTCF), in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), on November 6, 2018 moved her train of regional sensitisation summit to the south south region of Nigeria.
The event organised to cover the south South region which consist of Rivers, Cross River, Delta, Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom States, took place at De Castle Hotel (Annex) Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State Capital, with the theme ” implementation of structured Testing in Driving License Process”.
In his Opening remarks, the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for transport and Petroleum Resources, who doubles as the Chairman, Nigeria Transportation Commissioners forum – Rt Hon Orman Esin, welcomed all delegates and participants to the South South Sensitisation Summit. Esin who expressed gratitude to God for the journey mercies, described the theme of the summit as sensitive. Wishing all participants happy deliberations, the host Commissioner called on everyone in attendance to make useful contributions at the event.
In his keynote address, the Akwa Ibom State Governor – Mr Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, welcomed all delegates to his State. Speaking through Mr Charles Udoh – his Information Commissioner, the Akwa Ibom State Chief Executive, commended the organisers of the summit for thier initiative and most especially for choosing Akwa Ibom to host the South South sensitisation summit.
Speaking further, Gov Emmanuel who recently won a national award of Mr integrity, noted that the structured testing in Driving licence process when fully implemented, will close all channels of income leakages and help to reduce accidents on the road, as only qualified and tested personalities will be licensed to drive in Nigeria.
Gov Emmanuel seized the opportunity to invite the participants to invest in his State. Describing Akwa Ibom as the most peaceful state in Nigeria, He intimated the public that maintenance of peace remains top of his priorities. Mentioning his five point operational agenda to include: Job Creation, poverty alleviation, wealth creation, economic/ political inclusion and infrastructural consolidation/expansion, the Akwa Ibom State Chief Executive disclosed that all these have been achieved, because there is peace in the State. Stating that Akwa Ibom is gradually becoming the industrial destination in Nigeria, Mr Emmanuel also noted that Akwa Ibom is the second state in Nigeria, with the highest number of foreign direct investors.
Presenting a paper on “implementation of structured Testing in driving license Process”, the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps – Mr Boboye O. Oyeyemi, gave in detail, the processes that must be followed before National Drivers Licenses are issued. Mr Oyeyemi who was represented by the assistant Corp Marshall, Kingsley Agomoh, took time to explain the roles of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Vehicle inspection officers (VIO) and Board of Internal Revenue (BIR) in the process of issuing drivers License.
Another paper was presented by Director General of VIO, Cross River State – Engr (Sir) Paul Bepeh. Engr Bepeh who spoke on “State of Unified Driving License Program” dwelled on the need to maintain strictly, the laid down processes of issuing Drivers License. Bepeh noted that the VIO cannot function properly if the FRSC does not follow the process of License issuance. Mr Bepeh who also stated that most driving schools are not functioning because of low patronage, called on the FRSC not to issue license to people who have not been certified by the VIO.
Speaking on the “imperatives of drivers test” the President of Association of Certified Driving School owners of Nigeria (ACIN) – Mr Eke Confidence, focus on drivers Testing theory. Eke emphasized on:
The need to ensure that only qualified people present themselves for licensing.
The need to enhance seriousness in the learning process and
the need to verify psycho physical structure of Students. Noting that over ten classes of License exist, Eke also spoke on the need to determine drivers classification. He finally suggested that students for Automatic and Manual vehicles be handled differently.
Goodwill messages were presented by some personalities in attendance. Some of which were Rivers State Transport Commissioner – Rt Hon Michael West, Delta State Transport Commissioner represented by Stephen Dieseruvwe, Akwa Ibom State Chairman of Board if internal Revenue – Mr Okon Okon amongst others.
Shortly after the interactive session, the Service Providers (Drivers Testing Resources Limited) through Mr Femi Olumide, spoke on the Electronic Driving Testing. Analysing the flow charts, Olumide stated that the EDT, is already in use by Anambra, Lagos, Kogi and Imo States, while Delta State Transport Commissioner is at the verge of getting approval from the Delta State Government. According to the service providers, the ETD is to safe stress and enhance smooth administration of Driving test.
In the communiqué issued at the end of the summit, the consensus from the summit was that the present system of structured testing of Drivers for NDL be instill sanity in the process.
“It was agreed that all States of the federation should key into the global best practice and all agencies of government should respect each other’s mandates, in order to create robust synergy in the safety of lives and properties.”
It was also agreed that nominations be sent from the six geo political zones in the country to form a steering committee under the Chairmanship of Dr (Mrs) Anthonia Ekpa who is the director of Road Transport and Mass Transit Administration, federal ministry of Transport – Abuja, to help review the process of Computer Based Test (theory) and Practical Driving Test (PDT) before June 2019.
The event was attended by top Government officials, delegates from State Ministries of Transports, Federal Road Safety Corps Members, Members of the Vehicle Inspection Services, gentlemen of the press, amongst others.
It was gathered that South East Sensitisation Summit comes up next, and will hold in Owerri, Imo State Capital.
