FCT Agency Goes After Substandard Driving Schools

Federal Capital Territory’s Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS) has warned driving schools operating below standards to shape up or face its sanctions.

It gave the warning at a stakeholders’ engagement between the regulatory agency and FCT driving school owners and instructors.

At the event, DRTS director, Dr Abdulateef Bello, said the directorate had received disturbing reports that several driving schools in the nation’s capital were flouting the agency’s regulations.

“We have found schools operating only with laptops and no proper facilities, training under trees, and using unsafe vehicles. This is unacceptable,” Bello said.

He emphasized that as the nation’s capital, driving schools in the FCT must uphold standards and produce properly qualified drivers.

The DRTS director stressed that security of motorists in Abuja is a top priority, adding that schools that fail to meet criteria and reform their operations will face sanctions.

“Driving schools must meet standards or face penalties and potential closure,” Bello warned.

The DRTS previously suspended the licences of dozens of driving schools early last year for failure to comply with regulations.

Bello challenged the schools to see the stakeholder engagement as an opportunity to correct deficiencies in their operations.

He also reiterated the agency’s commitment to ensuring only qualified driving schools that meet the required standards are certified to operate in the FCT.

“We want to guarantee that drivers coming out of FCT driving schools are properly trained and ready to be safe road users,” Dr Bello said. “This directly impacts the safety of all motorists in the capital city.”

Representatives of driving schools that attended the event pledged to work closely with the DRTS to improve training programmes and facilities. President of the Association of Driving School Instructors of Nigeria, Umar Musa Mohammed, said the schools are ready to partner with the agency for the safety of motorists.

The DRTS has vowed to continue monitoring driving schools and training institutes through frequent inspection exercise.