Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has commended the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) for successes recorded in monitoring and supervising operations of driving schools in the country.
Mohammed made the commendation at the inauguration of the 2021 National Workshop for Proprietors and Instructors of Driving Schools organised by the FRSC, on Thursday in Bauchi.
The governor, represented by Mr Paul Bunson, Director in the state Ministry of Works and Transport, said that constant monitoring and supervision of driving schools by the FRSC had gone a long way in reducing road traffic crashes through the production of knowledgeable and trained drivers.
“I would like to commend the efforts of the Corps Marshal in particular and the Management of FRSC for organising this workshop which is aimed at ensuring qualitative driving and safety on Nigerian roads.
“I am aware that the Driving School Standardisation Programme (DSSP) of the FRSC is a scheme aimed at improving driving school operations in Nigeria by developing uniform standards, safety consciousness, professionalism and proficiency in driver education.
“FRSC has recorded great successes in monitoring and regulating the driving school industry through driver training education.
“This is evident in the reduction of road traffic crashes over the years as a result of knowledgeable trained drivers,” he said.
Mohammed also said that the DSSP has also provided a process of obtaining the National Drivers Licence (NDL) which was accepted globally.
This, he said, translated into a safer motoring environment in Nigeria through the reduction of road traffic crashes and their attendant consequences.
“Through these efforts by FRSC, Nigeria has been recognised by several international road safety organisations and our National Drivers Licence accepted by developing nations and some developed nations.
“These are very encouraging achievements,” he said.
In his remarks, Boboye Oyeyemi, the Corps Marshal, said that a similar exercise would be held in five different locations across the country, adding that the workshop was an annual event mandatory for all proprietors and instructors of driving schools.
Represented by Yusuf Abdullahi, the Sector Commander, FRSC, Bauchi, Oyeyemi said that human incompetence on Nigerian roads had been identified as the leading factor of road traffic crashes resulting in injuries and fatalities.
Oyeyemi said that training of drivers at the basic level was critical to address the problem hence the need for continuous training and retraining of proprietors and instructors of driving schools.
He said the introduction of the DSSP in May 2010 was to address many challenges on roads and ensure standard and uniformity in driver education.
Oyeyemi said these was to sanitise the processes and procedures for the issuance of the National Driver’s Licence that has made driving schools proprietors and instructors to play a significant role in training learner drivers, equipping them with the requisite skills for safe driving on roads.
“It is instructive to note that the Corps has committed so many resources in ensuring Nigeria aligns with global best practice in driving school administration.
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“For this reason, the Corps encourages all players in the industry to abide by the standards guiding the conduct and operation of driving schools and to continually strive to improve on the quality of service delivery.
“I wish to urge all participants to pay attention to the lectures being presented and translate the outcome in their various driving schools,” he said.
Also speaking, Mr Daniel Dakwo, the Proprietor of Garden Driving Academy, Plateau State, said something tangible must be done to address the issues of potholes on the roads, to drastically reduce the spate of road crashes in the country.
The theme of the workshop is: “Improved Driver Education a Panacea For Safe Driving Culture in Nigeria.”
The event was attended by proprietors and instructors of driving schools drawn from Bauchi, Yobe, Borno, Adamawa, Gombe and Plateau states. (NAN)
