Drama and mystery unfolded as the proprietor of one of the driving schools in the FCT, known as Chido Driving School located in Wuse Zone 3, refused to allow a team of VIO officers from the FCT Directorate of Road Traffic Services to inspect the standard of the office.
Mr. Mudashir Oloyede, the head of DRTS Motor Vehicle Administration, revealed this during a post-inspection press interaction. He stated that all efforts to gain access to the proprietor’s office proved futile.
The decision to leave the place was based on intelligence reports indicating that the proprietor is the spouse of a road safety staff, shedding light on the fact that some officers of both agencies responsible for supervising driving schools also own them through intermediaries, leading to such behaviors and shortcomings.
Mr. Oloyede continued, “Aso Driving School and AA Rescue were among the schools visited and certified to meet the standard, fulfilling all the criteria, from roadworthy training vehicles to well-equipped, fully-fledged offices.”
Expanding on the matter, security and traffic expert Onwuka Moses commented on the motives behind preventing DRTS officers from entering. He noted that it may be linked to the rivalry between DRTS and FRSC, similar to the occasional disagreements between the police and the army.
However, he questioned why the same proprietor had been recently certified and praised in a special report by Daily Trust as the most qualified driving school.
Onwuka asked, “If the supervisory roles on driving schools were solely with the FRSC, where her husband works, would she have taken such action?” He also emphasized that some of the pioneer driving schools in Abuja, like the reputable Aso Driving School, granted unrestricted access to DRTS officers because they maintain high standards.
“I was trained by Aso Driving School’s branch in Karu, Abuja, and I can attest to their fleet of roadworthy vehicles that never break down,” Onwuka added.
In a similar development, Mrs. Zainab Yakubu, a serving immigration officer, supported Onwuka’s endorsement of Aso Driving School’s standards. She mentioned that after reading the weekend report, it was clear that not everything was well among the driving schools.
It is also implied that both the FRSC and DRTS have failed to properly cooperate in carrying out their joint supervision as required by law.
There is a pressing need to conduct a comprehensive audit of driving schools to ensure their standards and enhance safety.
