Gov. Mbah Says Enugu Govt Will Support All Initiatives Promoting Safety On Roads

Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu has assured residents of the state that his administration will continue to prioritise and support all initiatives promoting safety on roads within the state and county at large.

Mbah gave the assurance in an address at the 2025 National Workshop for Driving School Proprietors and Instructors holding in Enugu.

The theme of the two-day workshop is “Entrenching Highway Safety in Nigeria Through Standardised Drivers and Riders Training.”

Represented by the state’s Commissioner for Special Duties, Chief Sunday Ajogwu, the governor noted that the state would continue to put up legislative support, infrastructure investments or policy reforms to ensure avoidable accidents were checked on roads.

According to him, we recognise that transportation safety is not merely a technical issue – it is a moral imperative.

“Let us not reduce this workshop to another ceremonial gathering, but rather, let it be a transformational platform that strengthens the building blocks of a safer road in Nigeria,” he said.

Mbah also congratulated the FRSC leadership, particularly the Corps Marshal and the training department for their vision and dedication.

In an address, the Corps Marshal of FRSC, Mallam Shehu Mohammed, said that the driving schools remained the first point of contact between would-be drivers and the culture of road safety.

Represented by the Deputy Corps Marshal, Mr Chidiebere Nkwonta, the Corps Marshal noted that “if the foundation at the driving school is weak, no amount of enforcement, engineering, or emergency response could sufficiently bridge gap.”

According to him, it is therefore critical that all driving school proprietors and instructors recognise the sacredness of their role in nation building.

He said, “Our Driving Schools Standardization Programme (DSSP) was established as a comprehensive framework to improve the quality, uniformity, and integrity of drivers training nationwide.

“Since its inception, we have witnessed significant progress through: improved training curricula; adoption of driving simulators in approved schools; increased compliance with minimum operational standards; and a more structured and credible licensing process.

“However, there are still significant gaps. Some schools continue to cut corners. Some prioritise profit over safety. Some struggle with infrastructural deficits, regulatory compliance, and the profession development of their instructors.”

The corps marshal said that the workshop would provide the opportunity to collectively address these gaps.

“The selected lecture topics including the examination of the trucking industry’s impact on highway safety, the economic prospects standardized rider training, and an honest reflection on the DSSP journey are – designed to challenge our assumptions, and inspire collective action.

“Moreover, the second day’s Technical Session is particularly critical. It acknowledges the reality that regulation without consultation often breeds resentment and non-compliance,” he added.

He said that years of orgnising the annual driving school training had yielded incremental reorientation among drivers especially as all driving schools followed the DSSP protocols and guidelines before a license is issued.

Speaking, an Honourary FRSC Special Marshal, Chief Felix Ajim, commended the FRSC management for finding practical solutions to the challenges confronting the driving school industry leading to poor driving culture and avoidable accidents.

“We appreciate the FRSC management for the humanitarian efforts to ensure that all road users are safe and the Corps is doing it in a proactive manner starting with the first point a would-be driver begining from – the approved FRSC Driving Schools,” he said.

The State Director of Vehicles Inspection Office (VIO), Mr Val Chime, said that the place of VIO testing examination for all would-be driver should never be jettison as it completes the training of a would-be driver before obtaining a license.

Responding, Mrs Gloria Ugbebo, an instructor with Intergrated Automative Services Limited, Calabar, thanked the FRSC for standardising and saniting driving in the country through a uniformed DSSP protocols and guidelines.

Ugbebo, who is one of the participants at the workshop, said, “The FRSC regulations have brought dignity and procedure in the driving school industry and the yearly training have continue to shape the industry for the better.”

The two-day workshop is being attended by driving school proprietors and instructors from Cross River, Ebonyi and Enugu States.