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12 hours ago
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Transportation
September 18, 2025 by Faith Yahaya, Abuja
The Drivers Training Committee has disclosed that most Articulated drivers in Nigeria lack valid driver’s licence and requisite road safety knowledge.
The Committee was set up by the Ministry of Transportation following a directive by the National Assembly on the mandatory training and certification programme for trailer and tanker drivers.
In a meeting on Thursday in Abuja with the Minister of Transportation, Sen. Said Alkali, the committee said the drivers retraining programme was urgent, considering the increased rate of road accidents involving all categories of articulated vehicles.
It noted over 80 per cent of the drivers do not know all they need to know for ensuring safe driving, adding that many of them do not have valid driver’s license, while some do not even have license.
The Representative of the Committee and Country Director (Nigeria) of Driving Schools and Safety Alliance Africa, Jide Owatunmise called for urgent funding and approval for the implementation of the programme.
He said, “As you have demonstrated your capability in securing funds to construct the bus terminals, we strongly believe you can also source funds to implement the driver’s retraining project to significantly reduce and eventually eliminate the crashes which have led to the loss of many lives and valuable properties.
“Over 80 per cent of these drivers do not know all they need to know for ensuring safe driving in all situations. Many of them do not have a valid driver’s license, while some do not even have a driver’s license at all.
“The increasing rate of road crashes involving the drivers of articulated vehicles has made the proposed retraining program both crucial and urgent, to save irreplaceable lives and properties on Nigerian roads.
“We humbly plead with you to use your good office to source funds for the un-delayed implementation of the drivers’ training and recertification programme as rightly directed by the National Assembly and passionately supported by you”.
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The Minister, who was represented by the Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr Musa Ibrahim, assured that funds would be sourced to implement the training programme.
He said, “The government of President Bola Tinubu is very prudent. The training was not envisaged in the budget of the ministry but be that as it may, we are looking for other ways around it to ensure that the training takes place.
“On receipt of the complaint from the Office of the National Security Adviser and the same from the National Assembly, we moved into action and said this committee must sit and be effective. We are mindful of providing safe, efficient and affordable transportation for Nigerians.
“The National Assembly is concerned, the National Security Adviser is concerned and the ministry is also concerned. So, we will get it done by God’s grace and achieve an accident-free road”.
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