Plateau Govt Suspends VIO Activities Over Violent Attacks

Plateau State Ministry of Transport has announced the suspension of the activities of the Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) with effect from Monday, September 21 to 27, to allow for operational review and restructuring.
The decision was taken following incessant violent altercations involving VIO and transport operators in the state.
The State Commissioner for Transport, Hon Davou Jatau, made the disclosure shortly after an emergency meeting with key stakeholders in the state.
The meeting brought together top ministry officials alongside executives of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and Tricycle Operator Associations.
Jatau condemned the physical attacks and harassment of VIO personnel discharging their duties, warning that such actions violate constitutional rights and threaten the hard-earned peace in the state capital.
Addressing the union leaders, Jatau gave a strict directive for transport unions to produce members identified in a video evidence assaulting state officers, noting that those arrested by law enforcement agents will face the wrath of the law of the land.

According to him, the ministry has created a complaint unit with dedicated phone numbers to be publicised to enable motorists to report incidents or grievances regarding VIO’s conduct.

He further said 80 per cent of vehicles operating in the state are without valid documentation, as well as a rise in underage children operating commercial tricycles and motor vehicles.

The commissioner, while addressing recurring frictions between transport operators and VIO, ordered the immediate enforcement of statutory driving age limits to ensure road safety.

He further directed that ad-hoc emergency meetings be replaced with mandatory monthly engagements between transport unions and the Directorate of Vehicle Inspection to resolve operational grievances through formal channels.