Over 2,775 drivers’ licences yet to be claimed in Enugu — FRSC

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says no fewer than 2,775 processed and valid drivers’ licences are yet to be claimed by their applicants in Enugu State.

The FRSC Sector Commander in Enugu State, Mr Joseph Udoabba, disclosed this to our reporter in Enugu on Wednesday.

Udoabba, who spoke on the ongoing “Operation Show Your Valid Driver’s Licence” flagged off by the FRSC nationwide on Monday, deplored the careless attitude of motorists in the state to safety on the road.

He said that with the level of exposure of people in the state, it was bewildering that motorists refused to collect their processed and valid driver’s licence at the office of the state’s Board of Internal Revenue.

The sector commander said that some of the unclaimed driver’s licences had been at the state’s Board of Internal Revenue office for over three years now.

According to Udoabba, the refusal of motorists to get valid vehicle particulars and drivers’ licences denies the government needed revenue to provide road infrastructure and also to maintain already constructed ones.

“Our people must contribute to the positive development and infrastructure provision in the state by fulfilling their civic responsibilities such as paying, processing and collecting their valid driver’s licences.

“It will also ensure that only duly tested and procedural examined drivers ply our roads to ensure safety of all,” he said.

On the ongoing “Operation Show Your Valid Driver’s Licence’’, the sector commander said that the ongoing operation had been hitch-free and yielding positive fruit.

“In the ongoing operation, we discovered that some driver’s licences had expired for between three and five years running and these drivers have been evading fines and prosecution.

“As such the fine of N10,000 for not having valid licence is being enforced and even other violations detected will be duly and appropriately fined.

“While we impound the defaulting driver’s vehicle until the driver goes through the driving licence issuance processes and procedures as stipulated and gets a fresh driver’s licence,” he said.