BY ANITA CHUKWUMA
As part of efforts towards enhancing road safety and tackling the rising rate of night time road accidents, Delta State Government, through the Directorate of Transportation and in collaboration with Blu Heron Ltd., has launched a comprehensive training programme for a new team of Special Purpose Vehicle inspection officers.
The initiative, unveiled at Prof. Chike Edozien Secretariat, Asaba, was aimed at strengthening compliance monitoring and enforcement during nighttime travel; a period notorious for increased vehicular accidents due to poor visibility, driver fatigue, and reckless road behaviour.
At the core of the programme was the training of 30 select officers from the Special Duty Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Team. These officers will operate primarily at night to ensure vehicles on Delta roads meet safety and legal
Speaking at the ceremony, the Commissioner for Transport, Mr Onoriode Agofure, assured that the initiative was being rolled out in phases, with future training sessions to be handled by zonal supervisors. The trained officers will be provided with official uniforms and ID cards to distinguish them from touts or impostors.
In his remarks, Deputy Director of the Vehicle Inspection Department, Engr. Okeri Prosper, said, “This training is not just timely but vital.. Our goal is to equip these officers with the legal knowledge, ethical conduct, and technical skills required to carry out their duties professionally and within the ambit of the law.”
Also speaking at the occasion, the state Consultant on Road Safety Compliance and Head of Operations at Blu Heron Ltd., Ugagaoghene Ogheneyole provided intensive guidance on road behaviour, safety tips, and professional conduct during enforcement.
“Delta’s road infrastructure has significantly improved,” he said. “Unfortunately, reckless driver behaviour continues to put lives at risk, from driving under the influence to non-functional rear lights and overloaded trucks that only travel at night to avoid detection.” ”The trained VIOs will work in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to ensure safe night-time mobility across the state. Their duties include routine roadworthiness checks, highway patrols, and inspection of accident-involved vehicles”
He further said that key responsibilities extended to driver testing, providing expert court testimonies in traffic-related cases, and advising motor licensing authorities, adding that officers were further trained on global best practices in vehicle systems inspection, covering critical areas such as the engine, transmission, brakes, suspension, and lighting.
He said urged drivers to ensure that their vehicles are in top condition before setting out at night, stressing that VIOs will begin full night operations on Monday, October 13, 2025.
