APRI Reacts to Malicious Publication Calling for the Restructure of FCT DRTS

… describes the publication as unwarranted, selfish, self serving.

Paschal Emeka, Abuja | May 29, 2023

The Accident Prevention and Rescue Initiative (APRI), a road traffic safety and monitoring advocacy group, has criticized allegedly sponsored publication by a group, International Traffic Observation Initiative, calling for a total restructuring of the Federal Capital Territory Directorate of Road Traffic Services, DRTS, popularly known as Vehicle Inspection Officers, VIO.

The controversial publication was signed by International Traffic Observation Initiative’s country representative, Arogundade Olaobisekan Emmanuel.

Reacting to the publication, in a press statement made available to journalists on Monday, 29th May, 2023, in Abuja, the Executive Director of APRI, Prince Fidelis Nnadi, condemned the publication by international Traffic Observation Initiative, saying that they are pursuing a selfish agenda known only to them.

The statement read in part, “our attention has been drawn to a publication by a faceless group, International Traffic Observation Initiative, calling for comprehensive restructuring of the Federal Capital Territory Directorate of Road Traffic Services to ensure improved services amongst other mind bugging allegations. While restructuring is a good initiative in improving the quality and standard of road traffic safety administration and management, this is not what the group aims to achieve.

“APRI a road traffic safety advocacy group with operational office in the Federal Capital Territory, condemns such publication which is a complete a diversion from the facts as existing in the Directorate as currently transformed by the Director Dr. Abdul-Lateef Bello within the period of being appointed as Director of the Directorate.

“While not holding brief for the Director or the Directorate but speaking as among leading Road Traffic Safety monitoring and advocacy group in the Federal Capital Territory, with knowledge of activities in the Directorate, the International Traffic Observation Initiative, from its allegation against the Directorate proves that they lacked knowledge of the various progressive and performance reforms, restructure and developments carried out and still ongoing in the Directorate by the current Director of the Directorate Dr. Abdul-Lateef Bello since being appointed as the Director of the Directorate.

“In the said publication, the International Traffic Observation group alleged that the management of the Directorate is in breach of Federal Character policy in it’s staff appointments without conceding to the fact that the Directorate and the Director are not responsible for staff appointment in the Directorate. While also alleging the engagement of touts at Area Commands of the Directorate in enforcing road traffic rules and regulation on the road, the said group could not be specific as to differentiate who among the officers are touts among them which to a large extent we can conclude that all the allegations are connoted with ignorance and falsehood as most of the alleged unprofessional officers are seasoned professionals delivering professional services for the good governance of the Directorates Administration even when those referred to as touts are not existing in Directorates Road Traffic enforcement team.

“We in Accident Prevention and Rescue Initiative (APRI) frowns at this cheap but mindless and frivolous allegations against a Directorate that is rated as among the most effective in Nigeria in comparison with other States, even before and at the current leadership of the Directorate.

“This so called International Traffic Observation Initiative, by investigation conducted at the Corporate Affairs Commission portal is not a registered organization and does not exist in the CAC portal of registered organizations as at the day and time of publishing such malicious and mindless allegation against a Directorate whose antecedents are well known to residents and motorists in FCT to be proactive and responsive to its role as a road traffic safety manager and administrator.

“The so called International Traffic Observation Initiative group blindly and maliciously accused the Directorate of being revenue generation conscious without referring to the Directorates established mandate.

” It is a known fact that the priority of every State/FCT road traffic agency is premised on safety and revenue generation hence the allegation by the so called International Traffic Observation Initiative against the Directorate for being revenue generation conscious was really published out of their ignorance of the Directorate’s mandate and regulatory roles.

“It is therefore obvious that the so called International Traffic Observation Initiative has desperately come out even as an illegal organization to expose it’s agenda of pursuing a personal and self centered interest by engaging and traveling in a destructive and malicious route to achieve its destructive agenda while dragging the personality of the Director of the Directorate, Dr. Abdul-Lateef Bello into disrepute and as a non-performer which are totally false and condemnable.

“APRI will always defend the course of road traffic safety in Nigeria and globally and will not support the maligning of personalities or agencies promoting efforts in achieving safety for road users in Nigeria and will rise to condemn person’s or organizations working in contrast in our efforts towards achieving safety objectives in FCT and Nigeria roads,” the statement concluded.