N20m drivers’ licence scam uncovered in Delta

By  Austin Ogwuda
Asaba—NEWLY-POSTED  Delta State Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Mr. Luka Ikpi, yesterday raised the alarm over N20 million debt owed the commission as part of its due from the production of drivers’ licence in the state.

Mr. Ikpi made the revelation when he paid a courtesy visit to the state deputy governor, Prof. Amos Utuama (SAN), in Asaba yesterday, and this prompted Utuama to immediately say “we will look into it”.

Utuama wondered why such debt should accumulate, in view of the fact that payments were made on the spot by individuals before any driver’s licence could be produced or renewed.

“It may interest Your Excellency that one of the secondary objectives of the Federal Road Safety Corps is to assist the state government in buttressing its financial base through the production of the customized driver’s licence, vehicle number plates and mobile courts.

“Federal Road Safety Corps generates over N4 million to the coffers of Delta State government every month. My worry is that the Corps is having an outstanding debt of N20.091 million which they paid out of the N60.273 million generated into the state government’s coffers through the customized driver’s licence.

“The licence is 3,100 out of it is for Road Safety Corps, while 2,000 goes to the state government, despite the fact that the Corps provides all the equipment and pay the personnel. I wish to use this medium to appeal to you to assist facilitate the payment of the debt,” the commander had appealed to the governor.