by Christiana Gokyo, Jos
The Vice Chancellor of the Plateau State University Bokkos, Prof. Shedrack Gaya
Best, has disclosed that, the original mandate of the VIO was not about ‘national security,’ as understood in its traditional sense, but it was about “orderliness on the road, safety on the road, the mechanical state of vehicles to ensure they are road worthy, and revenue from licensing of vehicles and their drivers.”
Prof. Shedrack Best made this disclosure, while presenting a Keynote Address at the National Conference of Directors and Chief Road Traffic Officers (VIOs) of the Federation, holding at Steffan Hotel and Suites, Rayfield, Jos.
He said, VIOs have been known to have what he termed as “paramilitary properties” by virtue of their training, and because they are uniformed; and while enforcement of traffic rules is associated with their work, the mainstream security personnel will not be keen to count them among them.
“VIOs have also not been known to carrying arms, in spite of the unruly behavior they may encounter in the course of their work from some motorists. Even the agitation by the FRSC to bear arms is yet to see the light of the day. Be that as it may, there has been a metamorphosis of the security environment as we know it today,” he stated.
“The topic is, ‘Enhancing National Security and Road Traffic Safety Through Effective Motor Vehicle Administration In Nigeria.’ It affirms our belief that security is everywhere and everything.
“It is not only discussed at military, Police, DSS, NIA, Civil Defence Corps arenas and training institutes, but also, a subject-matter for vehicular movement and administration, for road use, for driving, for the driven, as well as for drivers,” he noted.
He, however, acknowledged that, “The VIO is central to its positive utilization. For this to happen, road safety is key, as safe roads are a catalyst to national security. Vehicle Inspection In Nigeria: the introduction of motor vehicles and the expansion in their number made the arrival of vehicle inspection inevitable.
“Thus, the history of vehicle inspection is often traced to the promulgation of the Road Traffic Act enacted by the colonial regime, in January 1949. The purpose was to establish a vehicle regulation agency charged with the management of vehicular traffic and general vehicular administration.”
Prof. Shedrack Best stressed that, “The schedule of VIOs has not changed significantly since 1949, except that they have been domiciled at states, in line with their federalism. The schedule for the inspection of vehicles and to ensure their general mechanical fitness and road worthiness has also not changed. It was established during the Babangida regime, in the mid-1980s.
“The Federal Roads Safety Corps was established as a federal agency responsible for safety on highways. To do this work, they also had to impact motor vehicle administration and procedures in significant ways. The creation of this agency has created both anxiety and excitement in the transport and traffic sector.
“Its roles have often clashed with those of VIOs, as they look out for areas of vehicle health, drivers’ licences and traffic offences. Also, prior to the emergence of the VIOs, the Traffic Department of the Nigeria Police Force was put in place, also known as Traffic Police, traffic officers.”
According to him, Vehicles are not just neutral machines, but have increasingly become targets of crime and criminals, as well as instrument of crime.
“One key area of national security that vehicle officers stand to bring to the national security conversation is located in the identity of the vehicles, the owners of vehicles, the licensing of these vehicles, the licensing of those who drive vehicles on the roads, and records of traffic and vehicular offences,” he said.