Mbah Calls for Stronger Driver Education to Improve Road Safety

Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has reaffirmed the commitment of his administration to policies and programmes aimed at strengthening transportation safety, improving mobility, and protecting the lives of road users across the state.

Governor Mbah stated this on Tuesday while declaring open the 2026 National Workshop for Driving School Proprietors and Instructors organised by the Federal Road Safety Corps Driving School Standardisation Programme in Enugu. 

The governor, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transport, Mr. Tochukwu Ekwegbo, said the state government would continue to partner with the FRSC and other stakeholders to improve road safety standards through infrastructure development, regulation, and public education.

He stressed that proper driver education remains critical to reducing road traffic crashes and improving national productivity. 

According to him, “Effective driver education is not only about licensing; it is directly linked to national productivity, economic growth and internal security.” 

Governor Mbah added that a well-trained driving population would improve logistics and supply chain efficiency while reducing disruptions caused by road accidents and unsafe driving practices.

The governor urged participants at the workshop to take advantage of the training to improve professionalism within the driving school sector. 

He said, “By strengthening professionalism among driving school proprietors and instructors, the country can collectively reduce road traffic crashes, preserve lives, and build a safer road environment for all.” 

He also encouraged participants to exchange ideas and adopt innovative training models capable of raising the standard of driver education in Nigeria.

Earlier, the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Mr. Shehu Mohammed, said the modern approach to driver education now places emphasis on competency-based training rather than simply teaching individuals how to operate vehicles. 

Represented by the Assistant Corps Marshal in charge of the Driving School Standardisation Programme, Mr. Felix Theman, the Corps Marshal explained that the FRSC was focused on producing drivers with the right safety culture, risk awareness, and responsible attitudes on the road.

Mr. Mohammed noted that driving schools also play an important economic role through employment generation and skills development. According to him, “Driving schools are not only centres for driver training; they are also important economic enterprises that contribute to employment generation, skills development, and national economic growth.” 

He added that the Corps was committed to ensuring that driving schools operate as professionally managed institutions capable of delivering quality driver education while remaining economically sustainable.

Also speaking, the Enugu State Coordinator of FRSC Special Marshals, Comrade Anthony Orji, called on state governments to strengthen practical driver training by providing more driving ranges and improving the process for issuing learner permits. 

He said better regulation and improved training facilities would contribute significantly to safer roads and more responsible driving culture across the country.

In a welcome address, the Sector Commander of the FRSC in Enugu State, Mr. Franklin Agbakoba, represented by the Deputy Corps Commander, Mr. Kyrian Okolo, urged participants to actively engage in discussions, share experiences, and build professional networks that would improve driver training outcomes nationwide.

The two-day workshop, themed “Professional Driver Education Through Innovative Training Models: A Pathway to Improving Road Safety in Nigeria,” is attended by 58 driving school proprietors and instructors from Enugu, Ebonyi, and Cross River States.