The Edo State Government last Monday conducted an aptitude test to  commence  the  recruitment and training   of potential Traffic Control Officers under the state’s job initiative.
The “Edo Job Initiative’’ is a scheme of the Governor Godwin Obaseki’s led-administration to collate data of unemployed people in the state with a view to  empowering  them with technical and vocational skills.
Speaking on the sidelines of the test in Benin, the Managing Director of the Edo State Traffic Control and Management Agency, Mr Dennis Oloriegbe,  said it was the second phase of the recruitment exercise to fill positions in the agency.
Oloriegbe said the first phase was done in May this year where 1,025 applicants were screened and 852 successful applicants were selected.
He said that the aptitude test was the beginning of a two-week training/induction exercise where the best 500 candidates who complete the exercise would be employed.
“We are going to have a takeoff of 300 people who will control traffic in Benin metropolis while 200 persons will be on our data pool;  in all,  we will select 500 persons,’’ he said.
He said participants would be expected to attend the training programme at Imaguero College in Benin from their homes.
Oloriegbe  added that resource persons from the Federal Road Safety Commission, Lagos State Traffic Management Agency and Traffic management Division of the Nigerian Police  would be involved in the training process.
“The standard we are having here is an America based training programme, the applicants were screened for blood sugar levels, blood pressures and physical fitness.
“During the training,  they will be taught everything about traffic management; road signs, decongestion, defensive driving and  how to manage traffic in adverse conditions  and lot more,’’ he said.
Some of the participants commended the exercise, noting that it was peaceful and well coordinated.