FRSC, NARTO disagree at Reps hearing

THE controversy surrounding the introduction of new number plates/driving licence continued on Monday as the Federal Road Safety Corps and other stakeholders disagreed over the relevance of the scheme.

The FRSC insisted that the new scheme had modern security features and would enhance safe motoring, with the introduction of owner’s bio-data and traceable identification marks.

The National Association of Road Transport Owners, the Justice and Law Enforcement Reformation Organisation and other stakeholders, however, opposed the scheme on the grounds that it was an “unnecessary” burden on Nigerians.

The FRSC and other stakeholders in road transport management had appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on FRSC in Abuja.

The committee, which is headed by Mr. Nasiru Sani, has the mandate of the House to conduct an “investigative hearing on the planned phasing out of the old vehicle number plates and driver’s licence”.

The Corps Marshall and Chief Executive Officer of the FRSC, Mr. Osita Chidoka, told the committee the security and safety advantages of the scheme outweighed the reservations being expressed by some people.

“We are not imposing any additional costs on Nigerians, when compared with the security and safety gains of this scheme,” he added.

He informed the committee that it took the FRSC four years to get the scheme in place, having realised that the old one had been rendered useless.

Chidoka stated that the scheme was discussed with the Joint Tax Board, which recommended the appropriate cost.

Source