U.S signs $.3 million grant with Nigeria

Terence McCulley, the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria and Osita Chidoka, the FRSC Corps Marshall.

U.S signs $.3 million grant with Nigeria

The U. S. government and Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) have signed an agreement for a 300,000 dollars grant to train 77 officials on Nigeria’s new driver’s licence.

The U.S Trade and Development grant was signed in Abuja at the weekend by Terence McCulley, the U.S. ambassador to Nigeria and Osita Chidoka, the FRSC Corps Marshall.

Terence said the grant would be used in training the officials at a U.S. company, L-1 Identity Solution’s, training facility in Massachusetts, U.S.

Reduce fraudulent registration

"The training programme will focus on the features of the new Nigerian driver’s licence, demonstration of the central biometrics system and the card production process.
"The training will also include a visit to a department of Motor Vehicles site in Massachusetts where delegates will be able to see production and distribution of L-1’s driver’s licences in a working facility,” he said.

Terence said that successful implementation of the new driver’s licence would enable the FRSC to improve on its management of the licence system and reduce fraudulent registration.

One-week training programme

He said the grant would also support exports from L-1 Identity Solutions, adding that the technical assistance would be of mutual economic benefit to the U. S. and Nigeria.

“This will serve to facilitate trade and strengthen economic ties between our two countries,’’ he added.

Also speaking, Chidoka said two officials from the vehicle inspection offices in each state, including the FCT as well as three officers from the FRSC headquarters would be selected for the training.

Curb forgery of driver’s licence

He said details of the one-week training programme were being worked out, adding that the new licence was meant to check the rising wave of terrorism in the country and improve on exchange of security information among intelligence operatives.

He further said that “it would also help to curb forgery of driver’s licence and crime by tying number plates to vehicle owners”.

It would be recalled that holders of existing drivers’ licence and number plates were given a one- year period of grace to migrate to the new ones obtainable at N6,000 and N15,000, respectively.

NAN/Iheanacho