The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and Vehicle Inspection Office have resolved to partner in educating articulated vehicle drivers on traffic policies.

According to Public Relations Officer of VIO, Kalu Emetu, in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, both bodies particularly agreed to collaborate in sensitising the drivers to the dangers of flouting restriction order on the vehicles.

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) recently announced restriction of movement of articulated vehicles in the territory from 6.30 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 3.30 p.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

Emetu said that partnership resolution was reached when Chairman of NUJ in the area, Mr Emmanuel Ogbeche, visited the VIO Directorate in the FCT.

He said that Ogbeche emphasised the need to tackle movement of articulated vehicles during rush hours, especially at Nyanya and AYA areas and other major entry and exit routes in the territory.

“This restriction enforcement is essential at areas with high traffic build-ups,” he quoted Ogbeche as saying.

The NUJ chairman said that it was necessary to fight criminal activities of some vehicle drivers popularly known as ‘One Chance Operators’ as they had become “a big threat to the peace of FCT commuters’’.

He called for the establishment of a support group which would serve a complementary role as the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) was to the VIO.

“The establishment of such body is long overdue, especially in the FCT where VIO performs various other functions outside just vehicle inspection,” he said.

On his part, VIO Director, Alhaji Wadata Bodinga, acknowledged the need for a support group and said that efforts were in place to establish one which would be called “The Mayors’’.

“The Nigerian Conference of VIO Directors is making frantic efforts for the realization of a support group with the name, the Mayors.

“The VIO Mayors is to perform similar functions in all the states,” Bodinga, represented by Assistant Director, Operations, Mr Dele Yaro, said.

He said that in tackling “One Chance’’ operators, the directorate had commenced vehicles operators’ license scheme.

“The scheme implements taxis using different colours, side numbers and registration numbers.

“This is to enable easy trace of vehicles and proper identification when such vehicle is used for any form of criminality,” he explained.