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Ecowas plans unified vehicle and driver’s licensing system

Nigeria and other West African countries plan to adopt a unified documentation system for drivers and vehicles across the subregion under the Regional Vehicle Administration and Information System.

The move was announced by the marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Shehu Mohammed, during an inter-agency collaboration workshop in Abuja on Tuesday, Punch newspaper reports

Mohammed said the initiative will be executed in partnership with the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) through the West African Road Safety Organisation.

He said adopting a uniform driver’s licence and vehicle registration system will eliminate multiple registrations and improve traffic enforcement, among other benefits.

“The [Regional Vehicle Administration and Information System] initiative is geared towards having a common driver’s license, vehicle number plates, and documentation, as well as enforcing traffic infractions and generating critical data across West Africa.

Mohammed added that when fully implemented, it will promote seamless vehicle registration in West Africa and enhance the free movement of vehicles, persons, goods, and services, as enshrined in the Ecowas protocol on free movement.

Nigeria, West Africa’s most populous country and largest economy, would be expected to drive the policy.

While the policy is expected to drive integration in West Africa further, many observers will hope it does not go the way of the Eco, the proposed Ecowas single currency whose implementation has suffered multiple setbacks for several years.