Just In : Governor sacks driver for drug abuse, to introduce locomotive train
A commercial driver with the Plateau State Government has been sacked over drug abuse.
This was as the state government also said it has concluded plans to introduce locomotive train transport services for the people which will be in operation in Jos next week.
It was learnt that the driver was conveying passengers from Jos to Abuja in one of the new Siena buses acquired by the state government when he was discovered to be under the influence of drugs, a development which led to his sacking.
The state Commissioner for Transport, Gyang Davou, confirmed the development on Saturday during an induction for new Special Corp marshals of the Federal Road Safety Corps in the state held at the state FRSC Sector Command headquarters in Jos.
Davou said, “Just recently, we received distress calls around Riyom concerning the Siena shuttle buses that were purchased by this administration to ply the Jos to Abuja route and ease the transport problems being faced by our people; that the driver of one of the buses conveying passengers was under the influence of drugs and at the same time driving.
“You could imagine the number of lives he was playing with. So, we immediately despatched another vehicle there and recalled the said driver back. Thereafter, we set up an ad-hoc committee to look into the issue, which led to his sacking.”
The commissioner, who condemned the action of the driver, further disclosed that the state government had embarked on new projects to further reposition the transport sector.
According to him, apart from introducing a new innovative transport management system that will make Vehicle Inspection Officers in the state not be on the road in their bid to apprehend expired vehicle licence holders and other traffic offenders, the government had equally concluded plans to introduce locomotive train transport services for the people.
He said the train system would be unveiled for operation in Jos next week.
“The new transport management system we have started in Plateau will also address security challenges, including the issue of car theft. It is a public-private project to secure the lives and properties of our people. Already, we have mounted surveillance cameras in some places in Jos, including Hill Station Roundabouts and around Plateau Hospital Roundabouts.
“It is a pilot project that will be replicated in 13 more locations including the entry and exit points of Plateau so that we can have a good monitoring and database of every vehicle that goes in or out of Plateau state,” the Commissioner said.
He congratulated the newly inducted Special Corp Marshalls and called on them to support the efforts of the government to decongest the city and reduce crime in the state.
The commissioner added, “In the 2023 road safety campaign that we held in Jos, there was a record of reduction in road traffic accidents in Plateau State and this couldn’t have been possible without the involvement of the Special Corps Marshals in sensitisation and education of the citizens.
“But if we can’t attain total eradication of road crashes in the state, His Excellency, Governor Caleb Mutfwang wishes that it should be reduced to the barest minimum. As a government, we have created an enabling environment for safety on our roads.”
Speaking at the event, the Sector Commander of the FRSC in Plateau State, Babatunde Farinloye, commended the new special marshals for volunteering to fill the manpower needs of the corps.
Farinloye advised the new special marshals to selflessly dedicate themselves to duty while remaining obedient and compliant with rules and regulations guiding their operations.
He also urged them to give their best to the corps in the areas of public enlightenment, traffic control, and management of order on the roads.
“Our mission is to eradicate road traffic accidents and create a safe motoring environment in Nigeria. This, we must ensure while maintaining our core values of transparency, fairness, and service orientation,” the sector command said.
Our correspondent reports that 368 new special corps marshals were decorated during the induction ceremony which was witnessed by heads of other security agencies in the state including the state Commissioner of Police and the Commander of Operation Safe Haven.
