The Hon. Commissioner Ministry of Transportation, Hon. Baron Joseph Okwoli ably represented by the Director Administration Ministry of Transportation, Mr Olunde Segun Melo expressed optimism at the closing ceremony of the National Conference of Directors/Chief Road Traffic Officers of the Federation.
” I do sincerely hope that the conference will provide insights that will meaningfully contribute to the development of the Road Transportation Sector “. Noting that it is spellbinding to see road traffic officers with sanity, safety and security mandate to converge and brainstorm on the way forward in Motor Vehicle Administration.
Hon. Baron Joseph posited that Vehicle Inspection Office has being in existence for quite an age and their performance as a department under Ministry of Transportation is highly recognized and appreciated in terms of ensuring safety and security. Most importantly they made certain that Motor Vehicles are road worthy to avert road crashes.
As part of the effort of the Kogi State Ministry of Transportation to see to the optimal performance of the Vehicle Inspection Officers, following the era of technological advancement, a team of Officers were sent to Lagos and Anambra to understudy their system of operation for necessary review, adjustment and application. He added that the utmost priority of the Ministry is to empower and equip the Vehicle Inspection Officers to enable them perform differently among other Traffic Management Agencies.
Uniquely, the Hon. Commissioner described the relationship of Vehicle Inspection Office and other Traffic Management Agencies as smooth and cordial, foreshowing that the synergy has moved the ministry to an enviable height.
All things being considered, Hon. Baron Joseph recommended that, as technology in the Road Transport Sector keeps changing, there is need for States and Federal Capital Territory to also upgrade theory system to meet up with the current and future challenges in the sector. He further stated that the use of Public Private Partnership (PPP) model is a sure way to fast track the deployment of modern technologies in state.
To crown it all, a formidable synergy of Road Traffic Law enforcement and effective Motor Vehicle Administration by all stakeholders is deem necessary for advancing the Nigeria Road Traffic situation.
The National Chairman Conference of Directors/Chief Road Traffic Officers of the Federation, Engr. Paul Bepeh also expressed satisfaction and profound gratitude at the closing ceremony of the National Conference Directors/Chief Road Traffic Officers. He specifically thanked the Local Organizing Committee ably led by the Director Kogi State Vehicle Inspection Office, Engr. Ahmed Dauda Enesi for the beautiful outing.
In the same vein, he sincerely thanked sponsors, partners, companies and individuals who have contributed in no small measure to make certain the success of the program.
Going by the theme of the conference ” Leveraging on technology as a tool for Motor Vehicle Administration to enhance road traffic safety, security and revenue, the National Chairman noted that proliferation of private Transportation Sectors with their specific functions and guidelines has not change any aspects of road services. He categorically stated that to relinquish encroachment by other Traffic Management Agencies, Road Transport Office has set clear boundaries to avoid abrasion. He however, urged all Traffic Management Agencies to stick to their rules of engagement.
In clear view, Engr. Bebep explicitly spell out the duties, functions and responsibilities of Vehicle Inspection Office, following a comparative analysis, solely to address the long over due issue of duplication of duties by other Traffic Management Agencies.
In view of the diligence, dedication and commitment of Road Marshalls to duty, by ensuring that the sanity, safety and security are guaranteed on our roads, mostly significantly revenue generation to boost the economy of the state, the National Chairman called on government at all levels to sincerely look into the welfare of Vehicle Inspection Office in order to enhance effective and efficient service delivery.
In the same breathe, The Director Kogi State Vehicle Inspection Office Engr Ahmed Dauda Enesi and Chairman Nigeria Labour Congress Kogi State Chapter Comrade Onuh Edoka equally called on Kogi State Government to genuinely look into the welfare of Vehicle Inspection Office with specification to the hierarchical order of the office, drawing a comparison with what is practically obtainable in every government Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
He however, disclosed that there is plan to establish a Vehicle Inspection Office Academy in Abuja to train Officers for improve service delivery.
The Executive Secretary, Nigeria Transportation Commissioner s’ Forum Mrs Chinwe Ewaegbute avouched that National Conference over the years bonded Directors/Chief Road Traffic Officers as well as enhanced operational standards of all the 36 States of the Federation including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with the objective of addressing grey issues and developing a uniform operational model especially with regards to public transportation in Nigeria.
Mrs Chinwe lend more weight to the theme of the conference, saying that technology is the way to go globally. She noted that all sectors have key into the new innovation for effective and efficient service delivery, adding that for them in the transportation sector, leveraging on technology as a tool will not only bring about safety, security and revenue generation, it will also provide protection for Road Marshalls and Motorists.
The Executive Secretary pointed that most crimes are perpetrated on our roads, hence there is every need to key into the globally embraced innovation, to adequately curb social vices. She went further to say that leveraging on technology will help increase safety culture and reduce road crashes to the bearest minimum and also complement the efforts of the Road Marshalls in their line of duty.
Incorporation of technology into Motor Vehicle Administration will help detect articulated vehicles on our roads and also checkmate vehicles that are not road worthy to ensure outright rationality on the roads. Technology will completely overturn Transportation Sector’s status quo in a way that will bring about lasting impacts on Motor Vehicle Administration. She divulged.
In addition, leveraging on technologies for implementation of Laws,Rules and Regulations governing their respective Motor Vehicle Administration and enforcement will go a long way in building a reliable database that will assist in making informed decision, resources planning, management and allocation globally. In addressing poor check of Vehicles that tend to cause road crashes, Vehicle Inspection Office have transited from analog vehicle inspection to computerized vehicle inspection. She hinged on the fact that computerized vehicle inspection has also improved the standard and quality of vehicles plying our roads, thereby improving service delivery on the value chain.
She concluded that, for the aims of the Motor Vehicle Administration to be attainable on our roads, everyone is considered stakeholders, as the road is a shared asset by all and sundry. As a well meaning individuals we should endeavor to deploy concerted effort leveraging on technology especially with regards to Motor Vehicle Administration and regulations in line with best practices and security compliances with attendant benefits of revenue generation for national planning and economic development.
Former Director Yobe State Road Transport Service, Mr. Ibrahim Mohammed also amped up the theme of the conference. He affirmed that understanding Motor Vehicle Administration will complement the efforts of the government in curbing road crashes. He stated that with the current advent of Computerized Road Worthiness Centres across the country, technology will override the insinuation of corrupt practices for issuance of road worthiness certificate without inspection.
In his summation, the Retired Director concluded that, to achieve the theme of the conference, state needs to employ System Approach in all Motor Vehicle Administration structures within their zone ; where problems will be address holistically. He went further to say that for Motor Vehicle Administration to function to its full potentials, it must not work in isolation, it needs all the relevant agencies to work hand in hand with openness to achieve the set out goals.
Induction being part of the activity line up for the program, Chairman Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Onuh Edoka, a Kogi based Lawyer and Human Activist, Barr. Dele Suru, Group Managing Director, KAM Holdings Limited, Dr Kamorudeen Yusuf among others were inducted as Special Road Traffic Mayors.
Responding, they thanked the National Chairman and the entire body of the Directors/Chief Road Traffic Officers for finding them worthy of the position and promised to contribute their quota in all honesty.
In their goodwill messages, the representatives of Commander Kogi Army Records Lt. Col. S.O Enya, the Corp Commander Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC) Commander Kadiri Usman, the Executive Secretary Nigeria Transportation Commissioner s’Forum Mrs Chinwe Uwaegbute amongst others appreciated the honor and privilege to be a part of the program. In their remarks they reiterated that the theme is apt, timely and quite essential, putting into cognizance the baggages ember months comes with.
They averred that technology advances on daily basis with emphasis on security as it applies to every sector and every human endeavors. Thus, there cannot be a better time to address the subject matter than now.
They called on participants and other stakeholders to essentially see the conference as an avenue to broaden their horizons.
The Director Kogi State Vehicle Inspection Office, Engr. Ahmed Dauda Enesi thanked the ever committed, dynamic, indefatigable and pragmatic leader, the Executive Governor of Kogi State Alh. Yahaya Adoza Bello for providing the Directors/Chief Road Traffic Officers an enabling environment that yielded a hitch free conference.
Responding to the gentlemen of the press, Engr. Ahmed Dauda made clear that multiple traffic management gencies replicating their functions cannot affect their efficiency and productivity. He indicated that Vehicle Inspection Office has the constitutional mandate to inspect vehicles and declared motor vehicles road worthy.
He restated that other Traffic Management Agencies duplicating their duties are merely leveraging on the responsibilities they are saddled with, complementing their efforts by extension. He also reprised that Kogi State being the nexus of the country, the Vehicle Inspection Office welcomed the complementary efforts of other agencies to ease their operation in the state without friction.
Engr. Ahmed Dauda appealed to the State Government to provide the Vehicle Inspection Office with more logistics that will enable them match present and future difficulties in the transportation sector. He truly appreciated everyone for keeping a date with the Directors/Chief Road Traffic Officers and equally wished everyone safe trip back to their various destination.
Bringing the conference to a closure, Participants, other Traffic Management Agencies, Stakeholders and guests were treated to a dinner/gala night.
#End.
Sa’adatu Mohammed Jumai.
PRO, Ministry of Transportation.