Akwa Ibom NURTW Faults Return Of VIOs, Mobile Courts

Transport operators under the auspices of the Nigeria Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Akwa Ibom State have condemned what they described as government’s undue interferences in the transport sector following the reintroduction of the Vehicle Inspection Officials (VIOs) and Mobile Courts.

LEADERSHIP recalled several ugly incidents of accidents, frequent bloody clashes involving the officials and motorists and other unwholesome practices including bribery by the vehicle inspection agents, with attendant cases of protests by the NURTW members and other vehicle owners plying the roads.

In an interview in Uyo, the state capital, some drivers expressed fears concerning a possible return of such ugly scenes on Akwa Ibom roads, and urged the state government against relaunching of such measures noting that it is always prone to abuses by the VIO officials.

“We had before the ban on the activities of VIOs witnessed many frictions between motorists and the VIOs due to the fact that many of them are untrained in the art of human relationship, forcing drivers to oftentimes consider them as touts with personal agenda of driving government revenues into their pockets.

“In many instances, because of their penchant for bribe and high-handedness, many drivers in their bid to escape, would violate traffic rules and knocked down innocent road users while trying to flee,” Eno Bassey, a long-distance driver at Itam Park, noted.

Also, Chief Akpan Umoinyang, a lawyer, noted that “the reintroduction of the VIOs on Akwa Ibom roads is a duplication of responsibilities that would clash with the mandate of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC),” warning of a return of unhealthy rivalry, clashes and accidents on the roads if the decision is not rescinded.

But the commissioner for transport, Hon Orman Esin, dismissed the fears, explaining that the reintroduction of the former regime, would curb such ugly sights, adding that sanity and security would be restored instead, as commercial drivers would be issued with personal identity cards and number.

Announcing the reintroduction of the old order, Esin said: “In line with government’s plan for a proper organization of the transport sector, the general public is hereby informed of the suspension of Biometric Renewal (BR) for commercial vehicle operators across the state and the introduction of mandatory Transporters Identity Card (TIC), for security purpose.

“Commencement of the operations of Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIOs) for enforcement on road worthiness compliance on all vehicles and the introduction of the use of Mobile Court in the transport sector for all transport related offences.”