The Accident Prevention and Rescue Initiative (APRI) has called on the Hon. Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike and road traffic managers in FCT including other stakeholders to, as a matter of urgency initiate the rebranding and deployment of alternative officers to be known as “Road Traffic Officers” to serve as Road Traffic Officers on FCT roads.
Executive Director of the organization, Amb. Fidelis Nnadi in a statement made available to Journalists, on Monday, in Abuja, FCT expressed the hope that rebranding and deployment of well equipped and trained Road Traffic Officers in FCT, Abuja roads, would go a long way in curbing the current but increasing high rate of road traffic crashes, injuries and deaths currently being witnessed on FCT Roads.
APRI in the statement titled; ‘Improving Road Safety and Traffic Management in FCT: A Case for Rebranding with the nomenclature of “Road Traffic Officers” of FCT’, reflected on the sorry state of traffic management in the nation’s capital.
“The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has been grappling with traffic congestion and road safety challenges.
“These challenges are the effect of the judicial order banning the VIOs from road operations.
“The Accident Prevention and Rescue Initiative is conscious of these challenges as they affect the safety of road users in the Federal Capital Territory roads.
“It is on this premise that the organization is revommending a potential solution, which is the deployment of alternative road traffic officers to be known as the Road Traffic Officers of FCT.
Further highlighting these potentials, the Executive Director of the organization, Amb. Fidelis Nnadi called on the Hon. Minister of FCT, Barr. Nyesom Wike and other stakeholders to consider the following recommendations for the interest of road users’ safety in FCT.
The recommendations are; Enhanced Traffic Management. The Hon. Minister should as a matter of necessity rebrand the officers of the Directorate (DRTS FCT) to “Road Traffic Officers of FCT and the officers should be named and known as “Road Traffic Officers” as the alternative road traffic officers that will be responsible for Road Traffic Administration to manage traffic flow, reduce congestion, and minimize accidents.
Increased Security: Additional personnel can improve surveillance and response to incidents, enhancing overall security on FCT roads.
Efficient Use of Resources: Leveraging alternative officers can optimize resource allocation and reduce the burden on existing law enforcement agencies.
Replacement for Banned VIOs: Designation of Road Traffic Officers should be the alternative to replace the banned VIOs for the purpose of filling the gap left by the banned Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIOs), ensuring continued enforcement of traffic regulations and vehicle safety standards.
Improved Revenue Collection: The officers shall enforce payment of tolls, levies, and other charges as ordered by the court against traffic offenders, boosting revenue for the FCT administration.
He pleaded with the Hon. Minister, Sir Nyesom Wike to please support and expedite action on the passage of the already existing Road Traffic Bill of DRTS FCT pending before the National Assembly, you since 2019, to provide an enabling legal framework for the operations of the Directorate and the traffic officers.
Furthermore, Nnadi urged the Hon. Minister to demonstrate serious concern on the safety of FCT road users and support the rebranding of the officers as “Road Traffic “Officers (RTOs) of FCT with the aim to fill the existing gaps
Towards this, Nnadi called for an Executive Order from the Hon. Minister to be issued and implemented in order to facilitate the immediate rebranding of the officers while awaiting the passage of the DRTS FCT Bill with the National Assembly.
“The Hon. Minister, should please prioritize FCT road users’ safety and work together with the existing structures in DRTS FCT to implement these measures, ensuring a safer and more efficient traffic regulation and administration in the nation’s Federal capital,” Amb. Nnadi Concluded.