A security expert has raised concerns over a recent federal court ruling banning the operations of the Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), describing it as a misunderstanding of residual laws.
Comrade Salihu Dantata Mahmud, Director of the Salute Nigeria Initiative (SNI), in a radio interview, emphasized that Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIOs) and DRTS derive their authority from residual powers vested in state governors.
He argued that these powers existed even before the creation of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).
According to Mahmud, VIOs’ involvement in road traffic management is legitimate, which is why chief road traffic officers, and not the FRSC, sign drivers’ licenses.
He criticized the federal judge who passed the ruling, Justice Evelyn, for allegedly overlooking the provisions of residual laws.
“The judgment calls for concern. We acknowledge that some DRTS officers act outside their mandate, but that should not lead to an outright ban on their operations,” he said.
Mahmud also noted the increasing presence of poorly maintained vehicles and tricycles violating their routes in the city, arguing that the Ministerial Task Force cannot handle the situation alone.
He urged the National Judicial Council (NJC) and the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) to address such judicial oversights, stressing the need for judges to thoroughly review residual laws before making rulings.
Mahmud also called on the Nigerian Governors’ Forum to tap into their residual powers to boost revenue, rather than relying solely on federal allocations.
He revealed that a nationwide conference of VIOs from all 36 states and the FCT is already in progress, aimed at reinforcing the role of these officers in road traffic management.
