VIO to clampdown on rickety, dysfunctional, non-roadworthy trucks in Enugu
The Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) says it will commence massive clampdown on rickety, dysfunctional and non-roadworthy vehicles, especially trucks plying in roads within Enugu State.
The Chief Vehicle Inspection Officer in Enugu State, Mr Val Chime, disclosed this while speaking to newsmen in Enugu on Wednesday.
It would be recalled that there had been recent increase in road crashes in the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, which is currently undergoing reconstruction due to dysfunctional and rickety trucks.
Chime said that the VIO had restrategised to see that vehicles, especially trucks, not fit to be on the road are stopped.
“We are doing this in active collaboration of other sister road traffic and safety agencies within the state to ensure that this particular operation is robust and total,” he said.
He urged motorists to take advantage of the Automated Vehicle Testing Centre, Emene, newly installed by Gov. Peter Mbah, to do periodic check on their vehicles and detect faults and dysfunctions in their vehicles.
Chime said that as humans need periodic medical check-up for sound health, so do vehicles need periodic automated inspection for optimal performance.
The VIO boss said that it was mandatory that for commercial vehicles go for periodic automated vehicle inspection after every six months, while the private vehicles go at least once a year.
According to him, the newly automated vehicle inspection facility provides excellent and time saving automated vehicle inspection in few minutes.
He said, “Once you have got your vehicle’s roadworthiness certificate, you are at liberty to use the facility free-of-charge and ask the professionals at the facility questions about your vehicle and other driving/road user issues.
“The facility is strategically installed to close knowledge gap of regular mechanics in detecting hidden vehicle faults, which human eyes and physical touch cannot detect, but are made known via the computerised system.”
Chime also lauded Gov. Mbah for supporting the state’s Transport Ministry in providing lots of transport options, modernising transport facilities and system for the well-being and comfort of the residents.
According to him, we have five brand new transport terminals, over 80 vehicle shades, 100 CNG buses currently running and Enugu Air, which destinations have spread to Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Owerri and other locations.
“The patronage of these transport facilities continues to soar daily, as they provided needed comfort and pocket-friendly prices to the residents and visitors to the state.
“For the new transport system,, we have the “Iji Card”, which is like your ATM card, which you load and make use, without need for physical cash, and when lost or stolen, you can retrieve it back.
“We are anticipating the intra-state and inter-state mono-rail system coming on stream soon as well as the ferry service within the riverine areas of Nsukka axis of the state as well,” he added.