Rising Road Deaths: Traffic Safety Mayors Demand Immediate VIO Overhaul
Amid rising road accidents, the Special Road Traffic Mayors Association of Nigeria (SRTMAN), has appealed to the federal and state governments to prioritize and revitalize the operations of Vehicle Inspection Officers popularly known as VIOs, nationwide, in order to address the alarming rate of road traffic crashes, across the nation.
National President of association, Prince Fidelis Nnadi made the appeal in a statement on Monday, titled: “Why the vehicle inspection officers deserve the political will of the government to operate effectively across the 36 states and FCT. The statement further outlined strong reasons why the government should prioritize the efficient operations of the VIOs.
“We call on the Federal Government, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, and the FCT Administration to jointly demonstrate political will in this regard. Federal and State Attorneys-General should issue and sustain directives for swift prosecution of anyone who assaults or obstructs VIOs on lawful duty.
“The state governments should launch a unified National e-VIO Platform for cashless payments, digital certificates, and interstate verification to discourage faking documents. Recruit and train 5,000 additional VIOs nationwide to meet the benchmark of 1 officer per 800 registered vehicles.
“Insulate VIOs from political and transport union interference through a Joint Task Force with FRSC, Police, and NSCDC. Finally, we make it clear that road safety is a national security issue. A child killed by brake failure in Kano is a national tragedy, not a state problem.
“Empowering the Vehicle Inspection Officers is not a favour to one agency, it is government’s constitutional duty under Section 14 (2) (b) of the constitution of Nigeria to ensure the security and welfare of the people.
“The Special Road Traffic Mayors Association is disposed to collaborate and to mobilize volunteers in all 36 states and the FCT to support FRSC and State VIOs/RTOs in public education, data gathering, and compliance monitoring.
“Give the VIOs the political will, the tools, and the protection, and they will collaborate with other agencies and non-state actors to give Nigeria safer roads, higher revenue, and fewer funerals.
“Nigeria loses over 40,000 citizens annually to road traffic crashes, with FRSC attributing more than 30% to mechanical failure and unroadworthy vehicles.
From Lagos to Maiduguri, from Sokoto to Port Harcourt, defective brakes, substandard tyres, and failed lighting systems are killing our people daily.
“The Vehicle Inspection Officers are the statutory gatekeepers mandated to stop these death traps before they enter our highways. When VIOs lack tools, manpower, or political backing, Nigeria bleeds.
“The World Bank estimates Nigeria loses 3% of GDP yearly to road crashes — over ₦5 trillion in medical costs, lost productivity, and damaged infrastructure.
“A functional VIO system is not expenditure; it is investment. Beyond preventing crashes, VIOs drive Internally Generated Revenue through roadworthiness certification, driver testing, and vehicle licensing.
“With digital platforms and political support, VIOs can fund 70% of their operations while eliminating the ₦100 billion lost annually to fake roadworthiness papers and roadside extortion. Starving the VIO is financing touts.
“The FRSC Act 2007 and various State Traffic Laws empower VIOs to inspect, certify, and impound unroadworthy vehicles.
Yet across the 36 States and FCT, VIOs face assault, intimidation, and political interference while discharging lawful duties.
“No nation develops when its enforcement officers are humiliated for doing their job. Political will means protecting the law, not undermining it. It means prosecuting any individual or group that obstructs VIOs, regardless of status.
“Programmes like the Special Trade License, interstate vehicle tracking, and commercial driver databases depend on credible vehicle inspection.
“You can not regulate what you can not verify. VIOs are the technical backbone for ensuring that only roadworthy vehicles carry passengers and goods across Nigeria. A weak VIO in one state compromises safety in all states. National development demands a national standard for vehicle inspection,” the statement concluded.
