Treasure Ochemeje Lokoja
Kogi State Commissioner for Transportation, Joseph Baron Okwoli has advised Vehicles Inspection officers VIOs to apply modern Technology in their Operations to ensure that only motor vehicles that are road worthy are allowed to ply the highways.
The Commissioner gave the assurance at a three-day Annual National Conference of Directors/Chief Road Safety Officers of the Federation in Lokoja.
Mr Okwoli while speaking on the theme of the Conference, “Leveraging on Technology as a Tool for Motor Vehicle Administration to Enhance Road Safety, Security and Revenue”, said the use of technology will prevent and reduce the number of road related accidents and improve road safety.
The Commissioner who was represented by the Director Administration of the ministry, Mr. Olunde Segun Melo said the need to leverage on Technology to integrate motor vehicle administration that will guarantee road safety and security on roads cannot be over emphasised, hence the need to upgrade to meet up with the current changes in Transport Sector across the world.
Mr. Okwoli noted that plans were on to empower and equip road traffic officers in the area of technology for better performance of their responsibilities and appealed to the government for support to enable the ministry achieve set goals.
In his remarks, National Chairman, Conference of Directors/Chief Officers of Road Traffic Officers of the Federation, Engineer Paul Bepeh commended Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello for ensuring a conducive environment to host the event and assured that the aims of the programme will be actualized in the state.
Engineer Bepeh while speaking on the increase in the number of Traffic Agencies involved in traffic management across the the country noted that each of the agencies were provided with specific functions and guidelines to prevent encroachment of functions, stressing that the officers were adequately trained with the use of technology to enhance road safety, security and revenue in the state.
Also speaking, Chief Vehicle Inspection Officer in Kogi State, Engineer Ahmed Duada said duties of VIO officers are to ensure that vehicles are road Worthy and drivers are appropriately licensed.
He lamented lack of vehicles for proper operations and called on the state government to come to the aid of the agency especially provision of Vehicles, finance, logistics among others to enhance effective service delivery.
Similarly, the State Road Safety Corps Commander, Steven Dawulung who was represented by Superintendent Rout Commander, Kadiri Usman described the conference as timely, stressing that the theme which has to deal with road safety, security and revenue will help to prevent accident in this ember months.
He called on motorists to ensure safety precautions to avoid accidents.
