189,256 drivers licences on hold for collection nationwide -FRSC

The Federal Road Safety Corps has reacted to a media report about the nationwide hold-up in the issuance of driver's licenses.

Additionally, it stated that more than 189,256 licenses have been generated and are ready for pickup at different State Boards of Internal Revenue around the nation.

This was said in a statement released on Sunday in Abuja by Olusegun Ogungbemide, the Corps Public Education and Strategic Communication Officer.

Ogungbemide praised the media outlet for acting as a watchdog and stated that it was important to dispel some of the myths that were expressed in the article.

He claimed that this was to prevent misrepresenting to the public the reasons for the difficulties encountered in producing the National Driver's License.

"In order to clarify the evident truth and refute the false information in the cited article, it is pertinent to say that at no time did the FRSC blame anyone in the tripartite regarding the driver’s licence issue.

“This is because the corps does not believe in apportioning blame, but is keenly interested in getting the system to work for quality service delivery and customer satisfaction,” he said.

Ogungbemide said the entire processes surrounding the production of the national driver’s licence were delicate.

This, he said, was due to the intelligence and data-gathering ability of the scheme, adding that the corps had to subject the entire system to a comprehensive overhaul.

He said, however, that the efforts needed time to be brought to perfection.

“On assumption of office in May 2024, one of the priority areas the FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, committed his administrative energy to, was the total revamp of the national driver’s licence production.

“To nip the problem in the bud, he visited the production plant to have an on-the-spot assessment of the issues militating against the smooth flow of production.

“Aftermath of that visit revived the system and brought the plant up to speed,” he explained.

He added that the plant's production was fully restored after the issues were resolved and that he had given the order for it to start operating around the clock.

"The Corps can unequivocally declare that every issue affecting the seamless operation of the plant is being remedied as a result of that action.

"As of right now, more than 189,256 licenses have been submitted and are available for pickup at different State Boards of Internal Revenue around the nation,” the speaker stated.

According to Ogungbemide, the FRSC Corps Marshal assured everyone that the integrity of the licensing procedure will always be maintained to maintain worldwide acceptability, in keeping with his policy emphasis.

As the Corps proceeded, he cautioned applicants awaiting their licenses to go to their respective states for collection in its quest to clear the backlog.