Parading fake drivers’ license is criminal offence, follow due process, FRSC warns Nigeians

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

To avoid falling into wrong hands and risking culpability of obtaining fake driverse’license, which on its own is a criminal offence, the Federal Road Safety Corps has advised Nigerians on the need to adhere to due processing in getting theirs.

The Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Corps Commander Samuel Ogar Ochi, gave the advise.

For those applying for the first time he advised to stick to pass through a driving school where they will be issued certificate after graduation, adding that the certificate obtained from the driving school will give them the privilege of being included into drivers’ license portal of the Corps.

Ochi while explaining the procedures noted that many have been duped while trying to take short cuts, insisting that such has contributed to many fake licenses in circulation and has led to several accidents by unqualified drivers on the highways.

“If you have not gotten drivers’ license before and you are coming as a fresher, don’t go to Road Safety, Vehicles Inspection Officers (VIO) and license office to obtain drivers’ license. You must pass through a driving school and after graduation; you can come to our office for further procedures.

“You know, many Nigerians are in a hurry to get what they want, such people fall into wrong hands. If actually you are patient enough to do the right thing, nobody will be issued wrong document,” he said.

The VIO he said would test applicants to confirm whether they are qualified to drive before coming to the FRSC office for physical capturing which however would be after paying prescribed fee in the license office.

The Sector Commander warned that carrying about fake drivers’ license is a criminal offence as whoever was caught with fake drivers’ license risks being charged to court.

He stated, “Physical capturing is a must. Some will come and say, I don’t have time, let me give you my passport photograph, if that is done, your license is fake. You have not obtained a drivers’ license. After the capturing in FRSC office, you will be given temporary drivers’ license, and less than two weeks; your original drivers’ license will be ready for collection.

On the role of the FRSC, the VIO and the license office in the production of drivers’ license, Ochi said it is a tripartite arrangement, stressing that “Road Safety produces drivers’ license, but don’t issue. The issuance office is the license office. The FRSC, VIO and the license office have roles to play as far as drivers’ license is concerned.”

It remains instructive the admonishment of the one time Public Relation Officer of the VIO Mr KK Iloduba, who harped on the need for Nigerians to embrace due process in obtaining their drivers licence to guarantee its authenticity.

Implored Nigerians to get used to due process especially in processing their licence even as many may see the procedure as rigid.

Safety he said does not begin on the road, nor when you are behind the steering, safety he said begins with the issuance of drivers licence.

The then PRO stated, “If only applicants who have gone to driving school, who are qualified to drive, who have been tested by the VIO and then captured by the FRSC, are allowed to drive on our roads, then I think that our safety matter on the road would have been duly addressed.

“It is our mandate to determine your competence, to investigate the certificate you brought to us whether you are duly qualified or not; there are two dimensions to that.

“We have the theoretical test and then, we have the practical test; driving has gone beyond just moving a vehicle from point A to point B.

“We want to ascertain whether you are conversant with the road signs because road signs are signs and symbols or road that enhances driving, so, this is the procedure and this is what aches most Nigerians