Oyo state government on Monday, officially inaugurated drivers’ institute, an offshoot of the state’s Ministry of Works and Transportation.
The inauguration ceremony which had in attendance major players in the road transportation industry in the state held at the PWD building, Ministry of Works and Transport annex, Eleyele, Ibadan.
Speaking with Newsmen, the officer in charge of the institute, Mr Victor Ogunranti, informed that the Oyo state House of Assembly passed the bill establishing the institute in 2012, while the immediate past executive administration led by Senator Abiola Ajimobi, signed it into law in the year 2014.
Queried on why the kick off of the institute is just coming five years after the bill was signed into law, Ogunranti, hinted that proper consultation and adequate collaboration with major stakeholders in the industry to ensure smooth takeoff caused the delay.
He, however, stated that the institute with series of training lined up for drivers in the state would drastically reduced carnages on the roads.
Speaking on the occasion, Head of Service, Oyo State, Mrs Ololade Agboola, stated that the institute was established to address the present driving culture which was characterised by flagrant disobedience to traffic rules, signs and regulations, due to lack of knowledge of simple rules governing right of way with a resultant effects of road crashes, traffic jams/congestion, road rage, environmental pollution, health hazard and so on.
Agboola, who was represented on the occasion by the Director, Vehicle Inspection Services, Ministry of Works and Transport, Oyo state, Mr James Opalola, posited that the institute would in addition develop a right attitude towards driving responsibilities to instill understanding of traffic regulations and create good driving habits.