Birth certificate before new driving licence? Nigerians disagree

The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) is not getting a unanimous support from Nigerians over its plan to make birth certificate a prerequisite for issuing driving licence.

Some of the motorists told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the development was needful, while others said it would multiply the difficulties for securing licences.

Those who supported the decision by FRSC said this would disqualify under-aged and the old people from driving.

“It’s a step in the right direction,” said Mr Bode Olaiya, a Trader, who spoke to NAN. “I am totally in support of the idea because this is Nigeria, where lies reign, our driving habits should be regulated to discourage every Tom, Dick and Harry.”

A medical personnel, who simply identified himself as Dr Charles said “age limit in driving profession is good for safety sake.

“If you are below 18 years of age, there is the tendency for you to misbehave behind the steering wheel on roads, owing to youthful exuberance.

“And, old people tend to have some medical challenges such as poor visibility as they grow old which can endanger their lives and that of other road users,” he said.

A civil servant, Mr Chimezie Okoroocha, said that issuance of drivers’ licence to an under-aged could be suicidal.

“Many young people are always in a haste and do not consider other road users.’’

According to him, old people are not allowed to work in developed countries, not to talk of driving which is more strenuous.

Meanwhile, those who opposed it said that age should not be a true determining factor for the issuance of new driver’s licence to applicants.

A commercial driver, Mr Bola Ifagbemi, said that some old people who were agile preferred to drive themselves, rather than entrusting their lives into the hands of someone else.

“In fact, we should note that some young people below 18 years have body advantage above their age and many of them drive better than those older than them.
In her own view, Miss Ilerioluwa Adegoke, a corps member, said most that people did not have birth certificates and this development would make them falsify their ages.

“I think what is important is to ensure that applicants attend driving school for certification not the presentation of birth certificate,’’ she said.

NAN reports that the FRSC on April 24, said that age falsification created the need for the inclusion of birth certificates as part of requirements for the issuance of new drivers’ licences to applicants.

Mr Chidi Nkwonta, the Lagos State Sector Commander of the FRSC, told NAN that the development was part of the commission’s efforts to ensure that drivers’ licences were issued to only qualified applicants.