The Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Mr. Boboye Oyeyemi, monday announced a crack down on drivers who possess fake national drivers’ licences, adding that several culprits and their collaborators had been arrested.

This was even as he explained that the Vehicle Inspectorate Officers (VIOs) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) were not permitted by law to inspect vehicles and drivers’ licences.

Oyeyemi while on a courtesy visit to the Inspector-General of Police (IG), Solomon Arase, explained that people who connive with some elements to procure fake driver’s licence are in for tough times and appealed to the IG for improved collaboration with the corps especially in the areas of security, sharing intelligence and prosecution of offenders.

He also declared war on some youths who constitute themselves into nuisance on Abuja streets driving vehicles recklessly in the name of “stunting”, adding that they constitute serious nuisance not only to themselves but on the generality of road users.

Oyeyemi equally deplored that abuse of siren and erection of speed breakers indiscriminately by some communities, adding that such people are not only endangering the lives of motorists but also violate highway code.

He also stated that the FRSC had decided to collaborate with sister security agencies to fashion out processes for reducing abuses on the Nigerian roads, saying the FRSC would avail the police with its data platforms for necessary investigation and collaboration.

Oyeyemi said: “The statutory responsibility of the VIO does not include to stop people and ask for drivers’ licence, even in Abuja where they do so, there is no statutory powers given them to do so.

“All that we do are contained in the transfer of powers by the IG. If the police stops you to ask for your particulars, they are doing what they are statutorily empowered to do. What we need is collaboration to be able to do our jobs very well.

“We also urge you the IG to assist us trash the issue of indiscriminate erection of speed breakers by communities on highways. It is a serious problem which has increased road crashes on some of our roads. There is appropriate way of doing this and we need more police presence in these communities.

“We want us to collaborate on the menace caused by indiscriminate use of siren. Siren is for emergency use only but the way it is being used is a complete abuse and constitute serious menace to the society.

“At about 11p.m. when the road is clear, we still find people blowing siren and you ask, for what, you don’t know why but definitely it is wrong.

“We have also found children doing stunting with cars on the streets of Abuja. It is not safe to be doing stunting along the streets and we need your collaboration to stop this”.

He added that road crashes have reduced by 40 per cent last year and in the first quarter of the year, FRSC have recorded 19.5 per cent reduction.

He equally stressed that in their effort to fully collaborate with sister security agencies to achieve set target, “The NSA directed us to avail all the agencies of the FRSC platform and the essence is to reduce paperwork. We believe tomorrow’s training, we have asked for provision of lap top to be configured and called for more brotherly collaboration, especially in crime control and highway management”.

“We also need data from the Police, even though the Police is over-stretched, we have secured approval for training of our personnel in firearms,” he added.

The IG, while responding, commended the FRSC boss for the visit and assured him of police collaboration. He also approved the request by the FRSC boss for police helicopter for routine aerial patrol.

Arase said: “Prior to this time, most of our activities have been bedevilled by competition rather than collaboration and at our meeting last week, we said we should be man enough to collaborate with sister agencies in areas they have advantage.

“When we decided to do away with road blocks, we feel we should collaborate with you in highway management.

“On the vehicle verification exercise, we already have seven officers who would join you at your training tomorrow so that if we need information, we shall easily access your platform and ease our activities.

“On the issue of abuse of siren, it is a very big problem, but we have directed that people who are not entitled to police are withdrawn. Under the guidance of DIG Operations, we have set up the machinery to tackle this.

“On stunt driving, it is unfortunate that they are the children of the noveau rich but we shall not allow that. We have already started enlightenment and anyone caught will be dealt with according to law.”