Bukoladeremi Ladigbolu/
Head of the Public Complaint Rapid Response Unit (PCRRU), Force Headquarters, Abuja, ACP Abayomi Shogunle has defended his tweet, on Friday, where he said motorists had a 30-day grace period from the day of expiration to renew both their vehicle and drivers licences.
Tweeting from the handle, @YomiShogunle, he had tweeted: “If @PoliceNG officer arrests U for ‘expired car license/DL’ within 30 days after expiry date contact @PoliceNG_PCRRU”
His tweet generated lots of reactions from Twitter users; most of them queried the validity of his advice.
Among those who faulted his position were, Dr. Joe Abah, the Director-General, Bureau of Public Service Reforms, who advised Nigerians to ensure they renew their licences immediately they are due and not count on any grace period.
Also, spokesman for late President Umaru Yar’Adua and chairman of This Day editorial board, Mr. Segun Adeniyi, said he had an unpleasant experience with the police a day he mistakenly left his drivers licence behind at home.
But, speaking with Newsmakers, on telephone, Shogunle insisted that the 30 days grace period to renew expired licences is entrenched in the operational guidelines of the police and every policeman or officer is expected to abide by it.
Shogunle said the problem with majority of Nigerians was ignorance of their rights and responsibilities under the law. He added that one of the primary functions of the PCRRU was to enlighten the public about these two.
Shogunle, who was a former Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, however, made some clarifications about his tweet, including the fact that the grace period applies exclusively to the police.
He explained that all other traffic agencies, whether owned by the federal, state or local governments, have their own enabling laws and set of rules, which may not necessarily be in tandem with those being enforced by the police.
He stated: “It is important to let people know that the 30 days grace period only applies to the police. I know only about the police and I speak only for the police. I may not necessarily know what is obtainable with other traffic enforcement agencies. But as far the police is concerned, a driver cannot be arrested or charged for carrying an expired licence within this grace period.
“What I think people should note is the difference between carrying an expired licence and not having any at all. We appreciate the fact people may be genuinely unaware their licences have expired. The primary purpose of licence renewal is revenue generation for government and not necessarily for re-certification of a driver. This is why the grace period does not pose any danger to the society. And that is also why the punishment for carrying an expired licence and being unlicensed are not the same.”
Also addressing a situation whereby one forgets to take along his drivers licence while driving, Shogunle said: “The law says a drivers licence must be produced on demand, so no excuse will suffice for not having it with you in your vehicle.”
He added that the law allowed the police to impound the vehicle and gave individual 24 hours grace to produce the licence. After 24 hours, the concerned individual would be charged to court for driving without a drivers licence.
Shogunle also tweeted, on Friday, that foreign visitors are allowed to drive in the country with a valid drivers licence of their home countries, as long as they have a valid visa for the period of visit.
His tweet reads: “YES you can use other country’s VALID drivers licence in Nigeria as a TOURIST with valid VISA for period of VISIT.”
