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Paschal Emeka
The National Conference of Directors/Chief Road Traffic Officers of the Federation also known as VIOs has reacted to a publication on Vanguard Newspaper Online of 17th October 2019 issued by the FRSC cautioning commercial motorcycle and tricycle riders to stop obtaining Riders’ Permits as being issued across the States of the Federation and the FCT.
In a statement by National Secretary, Durojaiye Babawaale on behalf of the National Chairman Engr. Paul Bepeh, the VIOs stated categorically that agencies of government are meant to work in complementary terms and that it is practically wrong for an agency of government to go on air to castigate efforts of States of the Federation and the FCT without seeking clarifications.
According to the VIOs, “it is equally important to say that the tripartite arrangement that brought FRSC into production of Drivers’ Licence for the States and FCT 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 domains.
“Every States of the Federation reserved the right to protect the lives of its citizens and to regulate the way businesses are being carried out by whoever wishes to in their Territory.
“All Nigerians and visitors alike are familiar with safety and security challenges that have bedeviled the use of motorcycle and tricycle for conveyance of humans and goods over the years. It would therefore be wrong for States to fold their arms while their citizens are been maimed, robbed and killed daily in their domain.
They disclosed 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 and clarify that issuance of Riders’ Permits is an end to a process that include the followings: City delineation and establishment of operation zones and restriction zones; Route mapping and route allocation; Registration of tricycle and motorcycle; Registration of riders tied to particular tricycle or motorcycle; Allocation of tricycle and motorcycle to particular route; Enlightenment and training program for registered riders; Allocation and printing of bold security number on tricycles and motorcycles; Issuance of Riders’ Permit to signify compliance and permission to do business using a particular motorcycle or tricycle on a particular route in a particular State.
According to them, it is expected that at full compliance, all security and safety challenges associated with the use of motorcycle and tricycle for conveyance of human and goods would be drastically reduced. It would therefore be unconstitutional and counterproductive for anyone to jeopardize this laudable project across the country for whatever reason without making clarifications.
