FRSC SET TO PARTNER THE NIGERIAN CUSTOMS SERVICES ON INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY

In line with its desire to collaborate with relevant government agencies on information gathering and sharing for improved service delivery, the Federal Road Safety Corps has initiated a partnership with the Nigerian Customs Service in the area of Information and Communication Technology.

Speaking during a presentation at the national headquarters of the Nigerian customs Service, Abuja, the FRSC Corps Marshal and Chief Executive, Osita Chidoka said that the present dispensation of the Corps has in its drive to build a capacity for effective road safety management in Nigeria, has invested massively on people, process and technology which culminated to the installation of 375 V-sats for seamless interconnectivity among FRSC formations across the country.

In addition, the Corps Marshal said that the FRSC has leveraged on this technology to establish the first call centre by any government agency in Nigeria for prompt response to distress calls bordering on road traffic crashes and other traffic challenges adding that the Corps has reached advanced stage with the Nigerian Communication Commission to develop a 3-digit toll free emergency numbers to enhance this interface with the Nigerian motoring public.

According to Chidoka, an automated platform on vehicles entering the country will no doubt, further strengthen the capacity for the FRSC and Customs Service to develop a reliable database vehicles and their owners, adding that “ this arrangement will further ensure that customs duties are paid for vehicles undergoing registration before issuance of number plates, using the ASYCUDA platform”.
The Corps Marshal also said “the imperative of the partnership with the Nigerian Customs Service will help in the eradication of the importation of right-hand- drive vehicles and fairly used tyres (tokumbo) into the country, to reduce the spate of road crashes in Nigeria

Responding, the Comptroller-General, Nigerian Customs Services, Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko said that the partnership with the FRSC will help to inject sanity into the operations of the Nigerian Customs Services and improved revenue collection.

According to him, “ this collaboration will give us solid backing and support to make sure that those who do not pay duties, will not be allowed to register their vehicles with the FRSC”