A public affairs commentator, Aminu Busari, has commended the Director of the FCT Directorate of Road Traffic Services, Abubakar Yaldu, for introducing reforms that have improved service delivery and addressed some longstanding challenges confronting the agency.
Busari, in a statement examining Yaldu’s leadership since assuming office, said the DRTS boss had tackled issues ranging from number plate scarcity to engagement with transport unions and the capacitation of the special trade licence division.
He said leadership commendation was often difficult in revenue-generating government agencies because of entrenched practices involving shortcuts and manipulations by some staff and stakeholders.
According to him, the DRTS had not been immune to such challenges, particularly those directed at its leadership.
Busari said Yaldu initially adopted a “sidon look” after assuming office to study the workforce and understand the agency’s operations before making postings.
He acknowledged that some staff were unhappy with the postings but said the situation was eventually resolved.
“Would a refusal of posting be acceptable in the military or police? No is the answer,” he said.
Busari said one of the major issues Yaldu inherited was the scarcity of number plates, adding that the director identified the grey areas and ordered mass loading to make it possible for customers to obtain number plates randomly.
“Today, no matter what anyone says, it has increased from arithmetical to geometrical,” he said.
He described Yaldu as a hardworking and humane public servant deserving of commendation for the development.
Busari also praised the director for opposing the crushing of motorcycles, arguing that the practice amounted to a waste of economic resources and imposed additional hardship on owners.
“It takes a humane public servant to think that way,” he said.
He argued that motorcycle crushing had failed to eliminate the menace, stressing that destroying the motorcycles did not address the underlying problem.
Busari also highlighted Yaldu’s repeated meetings with tricycle operators and transport unions since assuming office.
According to him, the periodic engagements had helped improve understanding between the DRTS and transport unions.
“Candidly, the directorate is witnessing open-door administration and ensuring improvement in delivery of services,” he said.
He further commended Yaldu for ordering the capacitation of the special trade licence division to improve its efficiency.
Busari said the director’s efforts had earned him several awards, adding that stakeholders should support initiatives aimed at moving the directorate forward.
However, he identified the absence of a number plate production plant under the DRTS as a major challenge.
He said the directorate relied on supplies from the Federal Road Safety Corps plant despite motorists across the country increasingly opting for Abuja number plates.
“The directorate has no number plates production plant but only relies on the supply from the FRSC plant,” he said.
Busari questioned how the existing arrangement could meet growing demand, particularly with motorists from different states seeking Abuja number plates.
He also blamed the activities and attitudes of some touts and staff for making service delivery more difficult.
He urged stakeholders to address such challenges constructively rather than resorting to petitions or attacks against the DRTS leadership.
“Castigating or writing petitions against the director can never be the solution,” Busari said.
He called on all stakeholders to support genuine reforms and work collectively towards strengthening the directorate.