THE Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO), in Niger, has called for more vehicles from the state government to enable it carry out its mandate.

Alhaji Umar Kuki, its Director, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Monday in Minna.

“We need more vehicles to carry out our mandate in the 25 local government areas of the state. Our duties involve lots of monitoring. We cannot monitor traffic defaulters effectively if we do not move widely,” he said.

Kuki said that Suleja area alone had a high influx of traffic owing to its peculiarity, and suggested that it be given a minimum of five operational vehicles to combat traffic irregularities.

“Traffic challenges in Suleja are higher than any other place in the state because of its proximity to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT); that highway is also a gateway to the southern part of the country.

“Niger state is a hub for many motorists coming from the Northwest and Northeast. They all traverse through Suleja town on daily basis.

“Other areas requiring urgent attention include Sabon-Wuse, Kontagora, Bida, Mokwa, New Bussa and Kagara. These offices equally need more vehicles to check traffic defaulters,” she said.

He said that good vehicles were veritable tools in effective traffic monitoring, saying that VIOs without good vehicles were like soldiers without arms.

“Traffic defaulters look at our logistics and take advantage of that short coming.

“The moment they know this short coming, they defy our order and flee and there is nothing we can do. It is difficult to enforce the law when we do not have vehicles,” he said.

Kuki said that because of the challenges facing the VIO office, motorists hardly adhere to traffic rules, adding that some ignore traffic lights which had caused so many accidents and deaths. (NAN)

– Apr. 8, 2019 @ 15:19 GMT |