Technology experts have emphasized the importance of fully automating motor vehicle administration in Nigeria. This move is seen as crucial to addressing the inefficiencies in traffic management and improving road transportation safety.
The call for full automation was made during a recent stakeholders meeting in Lagos, which aimed to tackle the challenges of road transportation in Nigeria.
Mr. Wale Sonaike, the Deputy Managing Director of Courteville Business Solutions Plc, advocated for the complete automation of Motor Vehicle Administration in the country. Sonaike emphasized that this would enhance efficiency in traffic management, improve road transportation safety, and reduce incidents of insecurity on the roads.
Sonaike highlighted the pressing need for automation in the transport sector due to the growing cases of fraudulent documentations in drivers’ licenses and vehicle documents, as well as record falsification and extortion by enforcement agents targeting traffic offenders.
He mentioned Courteville Business Solutions’ contribution to automation with the development of a mobile handheld device called AutoReg. This device, the first of its kind in Nigeria, is used for collating transport data, benefiting state governments and federal agencies in the automation of motor vehicle administration processes.
Sonaike explained, “Our vision as a company is to be a globally accepted business solutions company supplying unique services for the Transport industry with locally developed innovations. We made an incursion into the public sector through the reengineering of the motor vehicle administration process through our flagship product known as the AutoReg. The application was pioneered in Lagos State through the Motor Vehicle Administration Agency (MVAA).”
He further mentioned that Courteville AutoReg is currently operational in 22 states, demonstrating widespread adoption. To enhance collaboration, the data collected by the AutoReg system is uploaded to the National Vehicle Information System (NVIS) managed by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC). This ensures easier management, verification, and enforcement of compliance on Nigerian roads.
Fidel Ambrose, a tech expert from Imo State, affirmed the effectiveness of the AutoReg application in capturing offenders with expired documents, traffic issues, or non-compliance offenses. He added, “The AutoReg platform has become a veritable platform to recover stolen vehicles, as well as eliminating double vehicle registration and ensuring confirmation of vehicle chassis according to international standards before carrying out registrations.”
Mallam Dahiru Saliu, a transporter based in Abuja, praised the AutoReg application, stating, “It has been in the market for over 15 years, indicating a high level of acceptability and relevance.”
In response to questions from journalists, Sonaike emphasized the need for hi-tech solutions, similar to those implemented in developed countries for similar purposes. He emphasized the importance of digitalizing surveillance and deploying tracking technology. Additionally, Sonaike stressed the need for proper digital registration of all vehicles, both private and commercial.