APRIL 24, 2012 BY SIMON UTEBOR WITH AGENCY REPORT
Motorists in Lagos on Monday lamented the incessant arrests by officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps and Vehicle Inspection Officers for allegedly possessing expired driving licences.
The National Assembly had in February suspended the issuance of new driving licences and new number plates.
Some affected motorists in interviews noted that the incessant arrests had forced many of them to abandon their vehicles at home.
A civil servant, Mr. Iniebong Akpan, whose driving licence had expired, said whenever he risked taking his car out, he would have to “grease palms to be able to return home with it.”
“I don’t know why I am always unfortunate to fall a victim of the expired drivers’ licence which I have had to pay dearly for.
“I have on many occasions tried to get a new one but to no avail, because of the suspension of the issuance of new ones by the National Assembly.”
Two commercial bus operators, Mr. Tajudeen Akomolafe and Mr. Innocent Isiato, said since the incessant arrests could be frustrating, they had also been bribing their way through as their vehicles had been impounded over the issue.
They said it was now a common practice by the traffic managers to demand for driving licence whenever they stopped a vehicle on the roads.
“I pray the suspension should be over soon, so that I can renew my papers and stop these daily arrests and unaccountable payments,” Akomolafe said.
Isiato wondered if the arrests were only for the commercial bus operators.
A female civil servant, who sought anonymity, condemned the attitude of the traffic officials who claimed ignorance of the suspension of the driving licence and the issuance of new plate numbers.
She said she had made several efforts to renew her licence, but to no avail.
She, however, claimed that she was able to get the new number plate through a friend who worked in one of the issuing agencies.
She stated that she got the new number plate for N35, 000 in less than a week, to avoid harassment from the traffic officials.
But the Chief Inspection Officer, VIO, Lagos, Mr. Toriola Gbolahan, dismissed the complaints of the affected motorists.
He said the motorists were using the suspension as an excuse, noting that they knew what to do if their driving licences expired.
Gbolahan said, “What we know in VIO is that if your driving licence expires and you come to our office, we will give you a temporary permit pending when the whole issue is sorted out.
“Those whose licences have expired should go to our various offices to obtain a permit. Motorists should stop using suspension of licences as an excuse.”
Efforts to reach the Lagos Sector Commander, FRSC, Mr. Jonas Agwu, for his comment on the issue proved abortive.
SOURCE: The Punch, 24 April 2012. http://www.punchng.com
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