Commissioner says only VIOs, not FRSC is allowed to check vehicle particulars

The Benue State Commissioner for Works, Transport and Energy Mr Emmanuel Manger, has issued a statement concerning the verification of vehicle particulars.

The Nation reports that the commissioner has stated that only Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIOs), not the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) or any other agencies are permitted to verify or check car documents.

Mr Manger went to specify the responsibilities of the VIOs, FRSC and Police officers.

According to him, the police have the right to ask for particulars, while tackling criminals, the FRSC can only print and present licenses to the VIOs to sign and issue to drivers.

The commissioner also announced that drivers' licenses that are not signed and issued by VIOs are invalid.

In his words, “Screening vehicle particulars by the police is a way of detecting criminals. Apart from that, it is the duty of VIS and not any other agency of government to check or verify vehicle particulars.”

Mr Manger made these clarifications on while addressing reporters in Makurdi.

This is the latest attempt by a government official to try and separate the duties of the VIOs from the FRSC.

However, it is important to note that in 2016, The Daily Trust reported that the FRSC boss, Mr. Boboye Oyeyemi declared that (VIOs) do not have the right to inspect vehicles and drivers’ licenses or stop people to ask for their drivers’ license.

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The National Chairman of the Directors/Chief Road traffic Officers of the Federation, Reverend Bayo Otuyemi, immediately reacted by saying that the VIOs are indeed backed by the law to inspect vehicles and drivers’ licenses.

Let us all hope that this latest statement from the commissioner will finally put an end to this long battle over the verification of vehicle particulars between the FRSC and the VIO.