FRSC, Chief VIOs at war over issuance of license to tricycle rider

There is a cold war brewing between the Federal Road Safety Corp
(FRSC) and the National Conference of Directors/Chief Road Traffic
Officers of the Federation over the Riders’ Permits to commercial
motorcycle and tricycle riders.

National Conference of Directors/Chief Road Traffic Officers of
the Federation, also known as Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIOs),
had after its emergency meeting resolved to issue riders’ permits
to commercial motorcycle and tricycle riders to effectively
regulate their activities across the states and the FCT.

But the FRSC frowns at such a move, cautioning commercial
motorcycle and tricycle riders to stop obtaining any form of
permits form the VIOs. The FRSC adds that it their duty to issue
licenses across boards.

Reacting to the development, National Secretary of National
Conference of Directors/Chief Road Traffic Officers of the
Federation (VIOs), Durojaye Babawale Olalekan, in a statement
issued in Calabar on behalf of the National Chairman, Engr Paul
Bepeh, insisted that the FRSC does not have the powers to stop the
VIOs from carrying out their constitutional roles of regulating the
way transport businesses are being carried out in their respective
states.

The VIOs expressed dismay at the posture of the FRSC, saying
that it is wrong for an agency of government to go public to
castigate efforts of states of the Federation and the FCT without
seeking clarifications, especially on issues of traffic
regulation.

The statement read in part:

“It is equally important to say that the tripartite arrangement
that brought FRSC into production of drivers’ license in
conjunction with the states has not in any way undermined the
statutory right of the states of the Federation and the FCT to
control and regulate transportation businesses in their respective
domain.

“It should also be noted that while the use of tricycle and
motorcycle are not particularly allowed for public transportation
purposes by Nigerian Road Traffic Act CAP 548LFN, exigencies and
reality of present developmental situations in many states have
necessitated their usage for human and goods transportation.

“It is, therefore, expected that their activities should be
effectively regulated to lower the identified challenges across the
states and FCT. This is the genesis of Riders’ Permit. It is,
therefore, necessary to urge members of the public not to be
confused.”

The Chief Road Traffic Officers described the action of the FRSC
as unconstitutional and counterproductive, adding that the issuance
of riders’ permit would go a long way to address some security and
safety challenges associated with the use of motorcycle and
tricycle for conveyance of human and goods.