COVID-19: FRSC shuts down driver’s licence capture centres nationwide

Following the lockdown directive by President Muhammadu Buhari on the COVID-19 pandemic on Sunday, the Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Dr Boboye Oyeyemi has ordered the shutdown of driver’s licence database in Abuja with immediate effect, in line with the President’s directives to lockdown.

According to the FRSC, drivers licence centres (DLCs) will not be able to process licenses for applicants nationwide. However, applicants can go via the By-pass mode to begin processing for the licence to be delivered after the lockdown period.

In a press release by the Corps Public Education Officer, Bisi Kazeem, he revealed that the shutdown is aimed at sustaining existing measures already in place by the Federal Government to curtail further spread of the menace.

He added that the corps marshal had in the wake of the pandemic directed all DLCs to maintain maximum hygiene through provision of adequate water, soap and alcohol-based sanitizers at the centres.

Kazeem said, “You would recall that the corps marshal had earlier advised applicants to avoid physical capture at this critical moment when the world is battling a common enemy (COVID-19), and explore the By-Pass option which is the online processing of the National Drivers License without physical presence of the applicant at the DLCs.  However, the driver’s license will only be collected upon resumption after the lockdown.

“It is therefore to be noted that the By-Pass option is applicable only to applicants who intend to renew their licenses not fresh applicants. This is hereby reiterated as part of the Corps’ concerted efforts to curb the spread of the global health challenge.”

Accordingly, Kazeem added that the closure of the DLCs will not affect the Operational formations of the Corps as Operatives have been deployed to render required essential services in collaboration with other security and intelligence agencies at all levels to enforce both the Presidential and State Government’s directives on restriction of movement and sit at home among others.

“To this end, the Corps Marshal has notified the chairman and secretary of the Joint Tax Board about the effect of the temporary shutdown of the DLCs nationwide,” Kazeem added.