The Federal Road Safety Commission is insisting that the late Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Mr. James Ocholi’s driver had no driving licence record with the commission.
Head, Media Relations and Strategy, Federal Road Safety Commission, Mr Bisi Kazeem, said this on Sunday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, in Abuja.
According to him, the news making the rounds in the social media that Mr Taiwo Elegbede, driver of the ill-fated vehicle that claimed the lives of Ocholi and his family members has a driving licence is not true.
“Elegbede is not captured in our driving licencing data, so the licence he claimed to have expired must be a fake one.
“Our licence procedure includes physical presence and biometric capturing of applicants which is permanently stored in our data bank, for the purpose of verification.
“We always tell members of the public to visit our licencing centres spread across the country and desist from patronising touts while applying for their driving licence.
“Elegbede can not be called a competent driver if he does not have a genuine driving licence, which he can only acquire showing mastery of basic driving principles.
Also, reacting to the claim that the vehicle was not originally that of their ministry, Kazeem said, “A good driver must perform a routine check on his vehicles before driving out, it is not an excuse to say because the vehicle was provided by another office and he should ignore a check on it.
“Infact, the maintenance department could not claim in-culpability as a result of receiving the vehicle from another agency or department, the more reason, why proper check should be carried out as the vehicle is changing hands.”
Kazeem said the commission wished the driver speedy recovery and urged members of the public to only engage the service of a genuinely licenced drivers, to avert road carnage.
Ocholi, his wife and a son died in an accident along Kaduna-Abuja Highway on Sunday, March 6, while the driver and the Orderly sustained serious injuries.
Corps marshal of the commission, Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, had said the driver was not captured in the commission’s data during his briefing to President Muhamammadu Buhari on Wednesday.
He said the drivers in the Federal Ministries’ Department and Agencies should come for adequate training on convoy driving by the commission. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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In this case, who would you blame? The employer or the employee? Ocholi would have made sure his driver has a valid driver's license before employing him. There is no need crying when the head is already off.
ReplyDeleteImagine De Govt officers of our land De Yoga kpataKpata No get WAEC drivers no get Licence... Shame to APC
ReplyDeleteSorry ro say this. Shame on both parties. The Minister and FRSC. They should be able to know this if they are bold enough to stop convoys to do stop and search. Am sure with that they will know of those drivers are with their drivers licences. But because they are above the law nobody dare come close to them. Now they want to investigate or carry out punishment when the head is already cut off. May the souls of the departed rest in peace.
ReplyDeleteIs it about driving licence or no driving licence? This should be about safe driving afterall Nigerians don't go to driving school they just get driving licence from the back door. Na office I Siddon wen my driving licence was brought to me. Just like that. FRSC should be ashamed as an organisation. They have failed
ReplyDeleteFrsc claims that drivers licence can only be acquired on show of mastery of basic driving principles. Indeed ! It is common knowledge dat driving test is not done anywhere in Nigeria . Even a blind man can acquire driver's license in Nigeria of today.
ReplyDeleteIf his drivers license is fake then you'd still blame FRSC because it's their staff too that make these fake licenses!
ReplyDelete