Technology has been helping us to ease the way we do things as it evolves over the years. With many cars currently plying Nigerian roads, safety on our roads becomes a key issue. Technology is also not taking a back seat in this regards. I recently had a discussion with Hyginus Omeje, FRSC Corps Commander in Lagos State, on how technology is being used to manage road safety.
In the first instance, Hyginus is of the opinion that no man can survive today without the use of technology in one form or the other, hence, it is important in every day living.
When asked to state some ways in which the FRSC is using technology today to make its services better, Hyginus stated that technology is enabling prompt response to crash victims. This is because the FRSC now has a toll-free number 122, that people can call to make a report of an accident so that prompt response and attention can be given to the victims. The call, he further stated, lands at the FRSC Abuja call centre where the caller is asked some basic questions by the operator, such as the location of the accident, the type of vehicles involved, etc.
Once the location is known, the operator then contacts the command, patrol vehicle and ambulance nearest to the location of the accident so that they can respond promptly within 10 to 15 minutes. This is made possible for him because the FRSC patrol vehicles and ambulances are fitted with trackers, hence, the operator can view their locations on screen. This, according to him, is technology at work.
The process of the renewal of drivers licence by the FRSC is also technologically-driven, according to Hyginus. He stated that you can start and complete the process of renewing your drivers licence online in the comfort of your home. As a fresh applicant, however, you need to visit the training school before you are issued with a driving licence, he further stressed.
Hyginus said technology, however, is also involved in the process of registering with the driving school, starting with the driving school portal, http://frsc-dssp.com/ where the applicant’s details are imputed and an electronically-generated certificate of competence is issued after completing the training. The applicant then takes the certificate to the FRSC office where the licencing process is completed.
He stated that the applicant can then move to the drivers licence portal, https://www.nigeriadriverslicence.org/ and fill the fields, pay online if so desired, print the form, authenticate the payment at the licencing office or Internal Revenue, as the case may be. Thereafter, the applicant moves to the FRSC capture centre where his biometric data is taken and issued with a temporary drivers licence, valid for 60 days after which the original drivers licence is ready for issue.
Hyginus said that another area in which technology is assisting is in the area of verifying the authenticity of a drivers licence, driving school certificate, vehicle plate number, etc. He stated that, to verify your vehicle’s plate number, for instance, all you need to do is to type “verify plate number” leave a space, then, type “the vehicle number” and then, send to 33324. If the vehicle plate number is in the National Vehicle Registry, it will come up.
Vehicle plate numbers are, however, not allowed to be registered online for security reasons, Hyginus explained. One must be present at the Vehicle Registration Office to get that done. According to him, people should strive to register their vehicles by themselves instead of going through third parties as there are some personal questions which are required to be answered but which third parties may not know about.
“FRSC has portals for all its services”, Hyginus concluded.
You can watch the full interview here.
