Nation
Number Plates:FRSC Warns Against Use Of Touts
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has cautioned vehicle owners in Nigeria against patronising touts to procure number plates and drivers’ licence.
Dr Kayode Olagunju, Assistant Corps Marshal, told our correspondent in a telephone interview last Thursday that the people should patronise the appropriate places in purchasing the two items.
Olagunju said all information on number plates and drivers’ licence, were available on the commission’s website and Facebook page, adding that “the cost of replacing old number plates is N10, 000 and N15, 000 for new plates.
He, however, said that the charges listed above did not include vehicle registration, insurance and road worthiness certification fees, which vary from state to state, based on vehicle categories as well as the use of the vehicle, (private or commercial).
“Don’t go to an FRSC office to procure number plates. Go to the State Board of Internal Revenue or the Licensing Office.
“ Any FRSC staff negotiating procurement of number plates with you is a tout. report him formally in the office or send a mail to frscsocialpages@frsc.gov.ng. Don’t go through any “middleman” or a tout,” he advised.
Olagunju, who is in-charge of the commission’s social page, also added that the cost of procuring the new Drivers’ Licence, was N6, 000.
“Go directly to any driver’s licence Centre, which is a one-stop production centre, as other agencies involved in the procurement are all located.
“Don’t go through any tout please, as you would be issued fake licence, which could land you in jail.
“Some people have actually been convicted, both within and outside the country, for being in possession of fake drivers’ licence or or trying to transact business with same. Ignorance is not an excuse please. Be careful,” he warned.
Olagunju directed Nigerians to seek further clarification through the commission’s website www.nigeriadriverslicence.org (for drivers licence) and www.nvisng.org (for Number plates).
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has commemorated the 15th anniversary of the release of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Environmental Assessment Report on Ogoniland, reaffirming its commitment to restoring the environment and improving the livelihoods of affected communities.
In a statement signed by the Project Coordinator, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, to commemorate the anniversary, HYPREP described the anniversary as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s environmental restoration efforts, noting that the project has made remarkable progress in implementing the recommendations of the landmark UNEP report released on August 4, 2011.
The UNEP report had revealed extensive oil pollution across Ogoniland, severe environmental degradation, and serious public health risks resulting from decades of petroleum operations. It also recommended an initial $1 billion fund to commence the cleanup of the affected communities.
According to HYPREP, the Federal Government formally launched the Ogoni clean-up in 2016, while the Project Coordination Office was established in 2017 to drive the implementation of UNEP’s recommendations.
Zabbey said the current administration has continued to prioritise the project under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Providing an update on the cleanup, the Project Coordinator disclosed that 30 of the 65 contaminated sites identified by UNEP have been fully remediated, while work is ongoing at several medium- and high-risk locations. It also stated that more than 1.5 million mangrove seedlings have been planted as part of what it described as the world’s largest restoration of oil-degraded mangroves, with over 1,000 hectares of shoreline already rehabilitated.
Zabbey further revealed that 49 Ogoni communities have been connected to potable water schemes through multiple water projects and booster stations aimed at providing safe drinking water across the region.
In the health sector, he said the 100-bed Ogoni Specialist Hospital in Kpite and the 43-bed Cottage Hospital in Buan are nearing completion, adding that several existing health facilities have been upgraded with modern medical equipment, while five ambulances have been donated to improve emergency healthcare services. The Project Coordinator also disclosed that a three-year human health biomonitoring study is being conducted in collaboration with the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
On economic empowerment, Zabbey stated that the Project has created more than 8,000 direct jobs and trained thousands of Ogoni youths and women in various vocational and technical skills, including software development, cybersecurity, aviation, commercial diving, seafaring, mechatronics, and creative arts. The project also reported awarding scholarships to more than 1,000 students, providing grants to small businesses, and supporting persons living with special needs through skills acquisition programmes.
The statement further highlighted ongoing legacy projects, including the Ogoni Power Project and the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, which it said is about 96 per cent complete. HYPREP also welcomed the recent designation of the Ogoni Wetland as a Ramsar Site of International Importance and pledged to continue promoting biodiversity conservation and sustainable management of the ecosystem.
Marking the anniversary, Zabbey said the progress achieved over the past 15 years demonstrates the collective commitment of government, development partners, stakeholders, and local communities to restoring Ogoniland. He called for renewed collaboration to sustain the cleanup effort, promote environmental sustainability, and support the long-term development of the region. 3