The Kwara State Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development has reiterated its preparedness to partner Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) in their efforts to enforce strict compliance to traffic rules and regulations.
This is in order to reduce road accident often caused by vehicles not worthy to ply the roads which is usually owned by private schools and also the reckless driving of their drivers.
The State Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development made this known during a courtesy visit by the Chief Executive Officer of Vehicle Inspection Unit in her office on Thursday.
According to her, the ministry will soon facilitate a forum where all the private schools owners will be intimated on the need to standardise all means of transportation of students. She however appealed to them to allow the ministry to inform the concerned private schools before the enforcement commences.
She commended the initiative of the VIO Executive for making the safety of pupils, students a priority.
Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer, Vehicle Inspection Unit, Engr. Bamidele Michael had applauded the present administration on its landmark achievements in the education sector.
Michael informed the Commissioner on the need to partner with their office in order to further minimise exposure of pupils/students hazards due to the use of Vehicles that are not road worthy, unlicensed drivers and overloading.
He said some of the vehicles have defections such as; bad brake system, worn out tyres, damaged headlights, bad vehicle wiper and have been rickety among others.
He further said, in most cases when the affected vehicles are arrested, they usually release them because of the pity of pupils or students in the vehicles.
He warned that, very soon, the full enforcement will commence adding that this is the reason why they made it mandatory to solicit the ministry support for the success of the exercise.
He implored the commissioner to help them mediate all the issue raised through the Quality Assurance Directorate and advised vehicles owner to renew their vehicles particulars to avoid arrest and delay.
In her remark, the Permanent Secretary, Hajia Mariam Ayodeji Garba appreciated the proactive measures taken by the VIO on road safety. She assured them that the ministry will soon invite them to come and sensitise private schools owners on some issues raised for effective compliance.
