Governor of Enugu state, Dr. Peter Mbah has commissioned the state Computerized Vehicle Inspection Centre, Enugu ,established to carry out routine checks of vehicles to ensure highest standards of safety and environmental compliance, road worthiness of vehicles and reduce road accidents caused by faulty vehicles.
Speaking during the commissioning of the center on Tuesday, at the ENTRACO yard ,Emene, Enugu, Governor Mbah, said the state-of-the-art facility represents a significant leap forward in the State Government ‘s commitment to ensuring road safety, environmental protection, and overall well-being of the citizens.
He added that the Centre was equipped with cutting-edge technologies designed to provide comprehensive and accurate inspections of vehicles, leveraging advanced diagnostic tools and automated processes to ensure that every vehicle on the roads meets the highest standards of safety and environment compliance He urged motorists to make use of the Centre to ensure safety.
Represented by the State’s Commissioner for Transport, Dr. Obi Ozor, Governor Mbah said the routine checks at the center will Cut down harmful emissions, contribute to a healthier environment and enhance transportation safety and efficiency in Enugu State.
Pix: Commissioner for transport, Dr. Obi Ozor
Pix: Gov’s representative,Dr Ozor cutting the tape
“The benefits of this center are manifold for our motorists. It offers a streamlined and transparent inspection process, reducing wait times and enhancing convenience. For our regulatory bodies, it provides reliable data and insights that are crucial for policy-making and enforcement and for our community at large, it heralds a safer, cleaner, and more efficient transportation system,Mbah’ said .
The Governor who announced that similar center will be established at Holy Ghost , Nsukka and 9Th Mile, said his administration “will ensure that this center operates at the highest standards of excellence and serves as a model for other states to emulate”.
Pix1 The Computerized Vehicle Inspection Centre
Pix: Dr. Ozor reading the write-up
In his speech, the Group Managing Director of Temple Group Limited, Segun Obayande, thanked governor Peter Mbah for giving them the opportunity to operate in the state, saying that their company was already in 28 states in Nigeria where they ensure that vehicles operating in a state were thoroughly inspected through the use of technological tools and other electronic devices.
Pix: A Priest blessing the center
He described the establishment of the center as “a dream come true” He said they started pursuing the proposal for the project since 2013 and it was not approved by the previous administration. His company, Temple Group , presented a proposal to Governor Mbah in 2023 and approval was granted without asking for an intermediary . He thanked the Governor for his support .
He said they started the project in December,2023 and completed it in less than six months. He noted that the center has the capacity to inspect 210 vehicles per day. Obayande added that it requires employment of 35 mechanical Engineers and other staff .
Pix- Resource person,Obayeni
He said “the position of the law is that every commercial vehicle should be inspected twice a year and private vehicles once a year.. “This is a life savings project, we will continue to save life,” he said.
He thanked Governor Mbah for approving the establishment of the Centre without an intermediary.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Commissioner for transport, Dr. Obi Ozor, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Arthur Nnamoko, said the essence of setting up the center is to bring tbe transport system into order .
Pix: Arthur Nnamoko,Perm sec. Ministry of transport
“We knew that our vehicles were not given routine test., with this, our vehicles will be given routine checks. Vehicle owners can come on their own to check their vehicles “, Ozor said.
He commended Governor Mbah for his visionary leadership and unwavering support to the ministry of transport .
Ozor said Governor Mbah’s. commitment to progress and innovation has been the driving force behind the project. He also thanked their partners, stakeholders, and everyone who contributed to making the vision a reality.
Pix: Sector Commander Sokumbit
In their Goodwill messages , the Sector Commander , Federal Road Safety Corps, Enugu Sector Command, Sokumbi Adeyemi who spoke on behalf of the military and para- military, encouraged vehicle owners to take their vehicles for routine checks to reduce car crash.
He said,”what we will do is to encourage everyone, individuals, fleet operators, transport owners, and transport union to make use of this facility so that it will reduce mechanical efficiency on the
On his part, Chief Vehicle Inspection Officer, Enugu state,, Engr. Valentine Chime ,thanked Governor Mbah for providing modern way of inspecting vehicles. He urged motorists to ensure their vehicles undergo the test adding that the Center would help to ensure that all vehicles in the state were properly inspected and certified before plying the roads.
Pix: Chief Vehicle Inspection Officer,Engr. Valentine Chime
Chime said private car owners are expected to present their vehicles for inspection once in a year with the certificate of road worthiness duly issued to them, while the commercial vehicles are to undergo inspection twice a year.
Pix: (L) Law Njoku, Chairman, Correspondents Chapel NUJ,Enugu and Chapel members
Pix: A car undergoing a test
The Chief Vehicle Inspection Officer, who could not hide his joy, said, “people have been calling on why the state government is yet to come out with a vehicle inspection facility to ensure that motorists check their cars. Today, Enugu has its own facility and it’s open for all. And we are going to establish one in each of the remaining two district to ensure proximity. In line with our laws, every motorist should ensure that his vehicle is certified road worthy before bringing it out to ply on our roads because the whole idea is to ensure safety of road users and to reduce the crash on our roads,” Chime said .
He appealed to the state government to employ more staff for the VIO . He also appealed for an operational vehicle to ease their operations
The Secretary of the Association of Mass Transport Operators, Francis Edeh, who represented the union, described the facility as a great achievement by the government, maintaining that the road transport workers were going to make maximum use of the place to ensure the safety of their vehicles and their passengers.
Other dignitaries who attended the event were the Commissioner for Special Duties, Emeka Ajogwu; Commissioner for Human Capital Development and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Malachy Agbo; Garrison Commander, 82 Division, Brig. Gen. M. M Abu represented by O. A Teslim; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Ikechukwu Nnamoko; and the Special Assistant to the Governor on Transport, Ify Ugonabor, among others.
Highlight of the event was demonstration of road worthiness test of a vehicle
Author: Maureen Ikpeama