… Blames incompetency of mandate officers for the court verdict
By Paschal Madu
The Coalition of Road Safety NGOs has frowned at the recent judgement by the Court of Appeal, Abuja, which upholds the ban on the Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS/VIO) in the Federal Capital Territory from stopping, impounding, or fining motorists.
This Appeal Court decision affirms that the VIO’s actions were unlawful, oppressive, and violated citizens’ rights to freedom of movement, presumption of innocence, and property ownership.
In an emergency meeting held by the Executives of the coalition and the resolution adopted on the court verdict, the coalition is calling on the Hon. Minister of FCT, Barr. Nyesom Nyesom Wike, to urgently constitute a committee that should to achieve the objectives effective Road Traffic Regulation of FCT that will reform the operational modalities of the Directorate, such modalities should be backed by a legal framework that will ensure constitutional and legislative approval for the operations of the Directorate.
In a press release by the Director of Media and Publicity of the Coalition, Amb. Fidelis Nnadi and signed by the Coalition Chairman, Prince Julius Ogu, the Coalition is drawing the attention of the Judiciary not to sacrifice the safety of road users on the altar of human rights, as any ban on road traffic agency in the performance of their duty is an open invitation to road traffic chaos on FCT roads which will ultimately lead towards exposing road users to high risk of road crashes thereby denying them of their own human rights.
“The Court should not be protecting the right of one road user as against the right of millions of road other users, this is ridiculous and not acceptable,” Nnadi lamented.
“Road Safety is everybody’s business and safety of lives is the priority of government as enshrined in the 1999 constitution of Nigeria, Nnadi said.
Commenting further, Nnadi said this ruling underscores the need for effective human right friendly road transport/Traffic regulations at Federal and State level to prevent any loophole that may give rise to litigation and also to operate within legal boundaries that respect citizens’ rights.
The Coalition however urged the FCT Administration to ensure strict reforms that prioritize professionalism, transparency, and accountability in road traffic management.
In the context achieving professionalism in the sector, Nnadi advised on the regular implementation of capacity building for officers in the management and administration of road traffic enforcement and administration in FCT.
To this effect the Coalition advised the Hon. Minister to direct as follows;
– *1. Introduction of technology-driven enforcement* (e.g., e-tickets) to minimize human interface and abuse.
– *2. Review of FCT Road Traffic laws* to align with constitutional rights and best practices.
3. Prioritise Implementable Capacity Building programes for officers
4. Reshuffle positions of officers and inject new brains that will effectively pilot the affairs of the Directorate.
5. Set up a Road Safety Monitoring Committee to monitor and take action against infractions by officers of the Directorate to prevent/avoid further litigation against the Directorate.
Stressing further, the Coalition call on the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to come to the rescue of the Directorate for the interest of innocent road users commuting in the FCT.
The coalition is therefore appealing that there should be a reform of the operations of the Directorate by deploying round pegs in a round hole at all levers of leadership in the Directorate with the aimed of rebranding the activities of the Directorate.
This reform will ensure implementation of international best practice for the sustainance of the Directorate integrity and outlook, Nnadi further advised.
In his contribution over the incident, the Chairmanr of the Coalition. Prince Julius Ogu, drew the attention of the Judiciarystating that it may be causing more damage to the safety of road users when it is sacrifices the lives of road users on the alter of human right of one individual.
“Road users in the Federal Capital Territory deserves to be protected by the Presence of traffic enforcement officers considering that the absence of Road Traffic Officer/VIOs is an invitation to chaos on FCT roads as it is already happening currently that they have been banned, a situation that is exposing innocent road users and commuters to become victims of this avoidable and preventable court verdict,” Prince Julius Ogu said on a very sad note.
Commending the Hon. Minister of FCT. Barr. Nyensom Wike for his activities and passion for road users, where he has prioritised road construction in the FCT and in the light of the current situation, Amb. Nnadi condemned the attitude of some road officers/VIOs, stressing that without professionalism among the officers, the Directorate will continue to be challenged with legal actions in courts, acknowledging that if the case in question was effectively handled with professionalism, the court verdict would have been avoided and prevented.
In conclusion, Amb. Nnadi urged the Hon. Minister, Barr. Nyeson Wike to also prioritise road traffic safety in FCT by equipping the Directorate with the necessary technology and professional manpower to drive the new innovations that should be introduced in the Directorate as the Territory always score the highest in road crash index annually, referring to FRSC, NBS and Nigeria Police reports Nnadi concluded.