Director of the Federal Capital Territory Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS), Dr Bello Abdul-Lateef, has retired after clocking 60 years as required by the civil service rule.
Abdul-Lateef, who holds a Masters Of Arts in development studies with specialisation in human resources and employment from the Institute of Social Studies, Armsterdam, Netherlands in 2003 and a Doctorate Honorary Cursar from Irsbacom University in Benin Republic in 2021, having graduated earlier from Bayero University, Kano with BSc in Sociology in 1989, was the head of the organisation (popularly known as VIO) through a transformative era between 2022 and 2025.
Dr. Bello was employed into the Federal Capital Development Authority as Planning Officer II on salary grade level of 08 in 1991; he rose through the ranks and attained the position of assistant director (Admin.& Finance) –Security Services Department. 2012-2016 and subsequently, promoted to deputy director (Admin. & Finance)- Security Services Department- 2016-2019 and director (Admin and Finance)- Security Services Department- 2019-2022.
When the urgent need to sanitize the FCT road environment became imminent, Dr Bello Abdul-Lateef was deployed to FCT Directorate of Road Traffic Services as the director in March, 2022; a position he held until his glorious exit from the civil service.
Speaking at his passing out parade after retirement on September 12, Dr. Bello appreciated God and all the staff of the organisation for a successful tenure.
Also, the chief executive officer of Ochenuell Mobility, Engr. Emmanuel John while speaking, described Dr. Bello as “a seasoned administrator and visionary leader, who championed the adoption of cutting-edge ICT innovations that modernized operations, enhanced service delivery, and improved public engagement. Under his stewardship, the Directorate achieved remarkable milestones in various automations such as motor vehicle registration, automated driver’s license administration, e-billing, and deployment of various soft and hard digital infrastructure. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Dr. Bello is celebrated for his mentorship, dedication, and commitment to excellence in public service.”
Speaking further, he said “The self-service portal, which initially supported only vehicle renewals, was significantly upgraded under Dr. Bello Abdul- Lateef’s leadership to include full motor vehicle registration and related transactions. This advancement allowed citizens to complete end-to-end registration processes from the comfort of their homes, reducing bottlenecks at physical offices. The upgrade enhanced service efficiency, improved transparency, and positioned the Directorate as a national leader in e-governance innovation.
“The e-Ticketing System of the Directorate reached full-scale automation under Dr. Bello Abdul-Lateef’s leadership. What began as a manual and semi-digital process was transformed into a fully automated platform that improved efficiency and accountability. The introduction of the e-ticketing system in the Directorate’s enforcement operations reduced human contact between traffic offenders and officers, thereby enhancing transparency and accountability. This innovation boosted revenue generation, contributing to the FCT-SDA’s IGR ranking, which rose to second position nationwide in 2023.”
