I’ve been postponing doing this. I had wanted to visit the office of the Federal Road Safety Corps not to renew my driver’s license but to obtain information for it is said that information is power. Yes, information us power and more power when used responsibly (when used responsibly, mine). People can use information wrongly to inflict injury on others for example and that is when information could be used for evil intention. That time information has been used irresponsibly and not responsibly.
So, on the 11th of October, 2023, I decided to bring my indecision to visit a Federal Road Safety Corps office to a close.
Federal Road Safety has two offices near me that I know of. One is at Nanka on Ekwulọbịa-Awka Road on the right hand side and the second is at Igboukwu on Isuọfịa-Nnobi Road on the left hand side before the popular Nkwọ Igbo market.
Coming from Ekwulọbịa, I decided to visit the one at Nanka due to its proximity. These days going to anywhere like Nanka, Agụlụ, Nise, Amawbịa or Awka is not anywhere near fun. First, because of the Ekwulọbịa flyover construction and second you’ve to walk all the way to the northern end of the flagged off construction zone.
On getting to Afọ Udo Nanka I took another keke to the FRSC office. The trip took less than twenty minutes.
As I was getting off the tricycle, I looked at the entrance door and said to the driver and some other passengers that it didn’t seem like the office was open. The driver and the passengers had a different opinion.
When I got to the gate I had to open it from outside. Intuitively, I knew immediately that there was no one in the office.
As the door opened it was like a deserted place and there was no sign of activity going on anywhere throughout the compound. Therefore,my intuition was not in error.
I was right. Nobody responded to my inquiries as I sought attention. I had to turn back and started walking back towards the entrance.
As I got out and locked the door back, on the other side of the street there is a motorcycle mechanic workshop.
I decided to walk over. When I got there I shared my problem with them and they told me that the office opens for business everyday and that day shouldn’t be an exception. They told me that the FRSC staff were on a road check. Few minutes after, I left. I would have been there in the morning rather than in the afternoon, I told myself.
Now, let me share with you why I visited the Federal Road Safety Corps office. All I need is a few minutes of your precious time but hold your patience for I still have a few details.
I have this mad desire not to be flagged down by FRSC staff anywhere. I’ve been before and the experience wasn’t a good one. I distaste a repeat performance.
On the day in question my passenger wasn’t wearing a seat belt. It was an oversight. Instead of business as usual, I preferred the ticket option. My license was seized and that was fine for it served me right. I went to the bank and paid the fine as instructed. The next day I went back to the FRSC office and redeemed my license. From then I vowed never to have a repeat experience.
The day I was apprehended, the FRSC staff didn’t get into equipments like fire extinguisher, spare tire, triangular reflectors, wheel spanner etc. Rather, he concentrated on seat belt violation which was so conspicuous.
In the United States of America, the country we all so much love and have a mad desire to migrate to, bribing your way out of a traffic violation is never considered an option while talking or pleading your way out of a violation is rarely done, though easier but not guaranteed. Such a situation could be followed by a warning ticket with no financial responsibility attached to it.
It is always Nigerians’ desire as a people and Nigeria’s desire as a country to be like Americans as a people and America as a country respectively, but each refuses to pay the price for greatness already paid and still being paid by Americans as a people and America as a country. Is that not controversial? If that is not controversial, I don’t know what is.
Now, how do I hope to avoid a repeat experience? Well, I hope to do so by making sure I have the above and correct list of other equipments not mentioned each time I am out there in the street. How do I hope to make sure I have the correct list of equipments? By paying a visit to a Federal Road Safety Corps office. That was why I went to Nanka office but I drew blank. I decided not to give up.
If you’ve ever been apprehended by the FRSC you will surely understand what I’m talking about. At times dealing with them is slightly similar to being confronted by the United States Immigration (INS) now known as US Homeland Security. There are differences though.
At one of the FRSC seminars one of the presenters, a FRSC staff confessed that some members of the public compare FRSC to village masquerade – something to be scared of. He is right.
I was determined to make sure that when I drive I do so with an unmeasurable amount of confidence. That means I cannot be stopped from making a trip to anywhere because the FRSC is somewhere on a road check. I hate compromising with my wallet by maintaining a clear conscience and I can only maintain a clear conscience when I have all vehicle papers and equipments as required by law.
So, when I didn’t succeed at the Nanka office I left, hoping to get the correct list one day if I don’t give up.
Now from time to time I visit the Ekwulọbịa flyover construction site for a first hand information on how the work is progressing. I do this independently, not as an agent. It is just a project of interest to me. As I was passing through the park I caught a glimpse of one of those trucks with FRSC inscription on it. On the east side of the truck I saw two members of staff of FRSC sitting comfortably on what looked like a carpenter’s table. I walked over and exchanged greetings.
I asked the female staff to give me a list of items I need to have in my possession anytime I’m on the wheels. She mentioned one item and suddenly ran off to meet someone. She then transferred the reponsibility to the male staff.
Here is the list in addition to the obvious:
(a) Jack
(b) Spare tire
(c) Torchlight
(d) Hydraulic
(e) Razor blade
(f) Extra fan belt
(g) Wheel spanner
(e) Fire extinguisher
(f) Triangular reflectors – C caution sign
In addition to the above physical equipments, you must have these valid and authentic documents which include:
(a) Driver’s license
(b) Vehicle license
(c) Insurance certificate
(d) Certificate of Road worthiness
(e) Proof of ownership certificate
While some drivers will take time to make sure they have the above (equipments and vehicle papers), others don’t care a hoot. Others don’t care a hoot because at times, unfortunately, providing all of the above equipments and documents is not a guarantee that a driver is protected from any type of harassment by the various concerned authorities. There will also be a fault. At this point it doesn’t matter whether a driver has a complete list of equipments or documents. Both are treated the same way – greasing palms or going to the station. Most drivers end up greasing palms. It becomes a tradition. Some drivers prefer greasing palms and then end up driving with expired driver’s license, broken side mirrors and or windshield, faulty side turns (trafficactors) and so on. With all this going on we still hope for a better society. It is not a social reality.
It is Nigerians’ desire as a people and Nigeria’s desire as a country to be like Americans as a people and America as a country respectively, but each refuses to pay the price for greatness already paid and still being paid by Americans as a people and America as a country. That looks both controversial and pretentious.
There is no perfect individual and because there is no perfect individual, there is no perfect family and because there is no perfect family, there is no perfect society. We can only have a better society but we’ve to work towards it, for it is not even guaranteed.
As soon as we start doing certain things the way the white man does things, not everything, the closer we are on our rough road to a better society, of course not a perfect society because a better society is not automatic.
If we ever have to seek for a perfect society it has to be in pretense so that such much effort can only turn back to encourage us to look forward to a better society instead of a perfect society for none ever existed and none will ever exist and no generation of people has ever sought for one.
A part of being a better society is for an operator of a motor vehicle to have unexpired papers in addition to the right equipments and not be harassed. Wearing a seat belt is also a part of it but not all of it. Drive safely!
Paul Chika Emekwulu is a professional speaker and author of several books including Road Safety Handbook for Motorists, Motorcyclists & Pedestrians. His latest book is titled, African Time: Hated by a Few, Loved by Many.
