FRSC, VIOs clash over inspection of vehicles particulars in Cross River

Federal Road Service Corps (FRSC) and Vehicle Inspection of Officers (VIOs) clashed over inspection of vehicles’ particularly in Calabar, Cross River State capital. The incident occurred on Monday at the U. J. Esuene stadium in Calabar at 11 am.

Our Correspondent who was passing by observed that the two uniform organisations standing at the right side of the road leading to eleven-eleven roundabout struggled with each other on who to stop vehicle first and check the particulars.
Members of the public who passed-by expressed surprise to witnessed the two uniform organisations struggling to inspect vehicles and particulars. The occupants of the vehicles most of them commercial vehicles condemned the action of the two uniformed groups.

“We are surprise to see two government agencies, one federal and the other state, involved in this show of shame, struggling on who to check vehicle particulars first. This was an act of embarrassment. What is in this place that two big organizations like these two could come here to inspect vehicles?
Chief Okon Ekpeyong Etim who stood by the side washing the fierce arguments by the two organizations said, “It is sad that we witness this unbecoming of the federal and state government officials. What is all this,” he exclaimed.

The argument, stopping of vehicles, checking of particulars and other undisclosed event taken place, it was gathered resulted in along hold up as vehicles that came in from IBB, Mutalla Mohammed highway and others found it difficult to pass.

By the time this newspaper left the scene, the gridlock has extended to a long stretched. The Sector Commander, Chidi Ebere Benjamin Nkwonta had during a courtesy visit on him by members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Cross River State Council said that nobody was the owner of the road in the country.

“We are sensitive organizations, we are not into dragging any jurisdiction with anybody, we want to concentrate on public safety which is our primary concern, so if it is expedience for us to negotiate with whatever agency is in town, we say fine, you cover here we cover there but that does not mean that we are ceding our power but for expedience, we can get into that understanding, so people should understand that.

“Nobody own the road, these are all agencies of government created by law which has statutory responsibility, this function is not mutually exclusive, it is cooperative in a way, jurisdiction is kind of stratifies but we cooperate, Police is primary on the road to check crimes, VIOs as the name suggest is vehicle inspection officer and Road Safety is there to prevent traffic clash, all are working toward public safety but the job are stratifies.

“The job is not exclusive but since the job is similar, FRSC, DOPT, 100 Marian, VIOs, we are all checking motorists, it is possible that the job can be collapsed. Road Safety has drafted a model law on what state motor vehicle administration law should be like; we have it available to state to domesticate it,” he stated.

At the time of filling this report, it was not clear what actually was the cause of the struggle but it was however, gathered that, the two agencies arrived the area the time same and started flagging vehicles down for inspection. None refused to give way to the other hence the two commences show of strength while motorists suffered long delay

Edem Bassey, Calabar