By Zainab Oyekan
The Plateau Government says it is overhauling the operations of Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIOs) to curb roadside altercations between officers and motorists.
The Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Davou Gyang made the disclosure during a media engagement with journalists in Jos on Wednesday.
Gyang assured that the reforms would promote safety, professionalism and peaceful interactions between VIOs and motorists.
He explained that the decision followed recent public concerns and two reported assaults on VIO officers, prompting the ministry to review its operations and adopt measures to prevent further roadside altercations.
According to him, the ministry had identified gaps in VIO operations, including training, retraining, staffing and public sensitisation, which required urgent attention to improve service delivery.
Gyang added that government would strengthen the training and retraining of officers, particularly on professional conduct, communication and human relations during roadside enforcement operations.
He said the ministry would also establish a dedicated communication line through which motorists could report misconduct and other concerns for prompt investigation and appropriate action.
The commissioner further said that plans were underway to upgrade the Plateau Transport Management System with surveillance cameras and digital vehicle databases to reduce unnecessary roadside checks.
He emphasised that the upgraded system would identify vehicles with expired documents and assist authorities in tracking stolen vehicles through number-plate recognition and alerts.
Gyang stated that the ministry was exploring measures to enable motorists with valid documentation to move freely without repeated stoppages by enforcement personnel on the roads.
The commissioner appealed to journalists to support public sensitisation by educating motorists on VIO responsibilities, available complaint channels and the need for peaceful resolution of disputes.
Gyang told newsmen that the reforms were designed to restore public confidence, improve road safety, reduce confrontations and foster a more effective relationship between motorists and VIOs.
