The Acting Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr Dauda Biu on Tuesday tasked driving schools to focus on producing competent drivers with an appreciable road safety mindset.
According to Biu, this is necessary to further reduce road traffic crashes in the country.
The Corps Marshal made the appeal in a message to the opening of the annual capacity building workshop for driving schools proprietors in the North West, held in Kaduna.
Explaining further at the workshop titled: “Improving the effectiveness of Driving Schools in Curtailing Road Traffic Crashes”, Biu said the annual capacity building workshop and training were mandatory for all driving school operators in Nigeria, as enshrined by law.
Biu was represented by ACM Godwin Omiko, FRSC Zonal Commanding Officer, Kaduna.
He said that the vision of the corps was to have zero road traffic crashes and urged the driving schools to ensure that only those with driving dynamism and best practice were certified to drive.
He explained that the workshop was a platform for both the regulator and the operators of driving schools to rub mind.
“Also review the activities of the industry and proffer suggestions for the best way to move the industry towards enhancing practical and theoretical skills of learner drivers in line with driving dynamism and best practice.
“The aim of the workshop is to produce competent drivers in the country with an appreciable road safety mindset towards the realization of the Corps vision of zero traffic accidents,” he said.
Biu added that it was an opportunity for new proprietors and instructors to equip themselves with innovations and strategic approaches in achieving quality driving training.
The Corps Marshall noted that significant achievement has been recorded in the standardisation of national driving schools programme.
He said that the standardisation would impact on the driving culture in Nigeria and improve the integrity of the National Drivers Licence and database.
Biu disclosed that the FRSC, through the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), now train articulated truck drivers in line with the National Skill Qualification Framework.
“The products of this scheme will be awarded with a certificate that will qualify them for employment both within and outside Nigeria,” he said.
Biu advised driving schools with required facilities to key into the scheme and apply to be training providers.
“The industry has a lot of potentials that are yet to be fully harnessed, I therefore challenge operators in the industry to take advantage of the platforms provided by the Corps to expand the scope and scale of their business,” he added.
Gov. Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State said educating drivers on safe driving culture would improve professionalism and translate into reduction of road traffic crashes.
El-Rufai, who was represented by Parmanent Secretary Ministry for Works and Public Infrastructure, Mr Bashir Lere, commended the FRSC for introducing several initiatives to improve road use culture and reduce traffic crashes.
He pledged continuous support of the government to ensure effective inspection of driving schools in the state.
The governor commended the FRSC for it’s efforts in ensuring that driving schools operate in line with global best practices.
“Your efforts in this regard is highly commendable and we shall continue to partner with you and give you all necessary support for the success of all your programmes,” El-Rufai said.
Earlier, the Acting Sector Commander, Kaduna Command, Garba Lawal acknowledged the robust synergy with sister agencies and stakeholders to tackle road accidents and ensure road safety culture in the state. nan.
