The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has ordered the closure of all Drivers License database in Abuja with immediate effect.
According to the FRSC, the decision is in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s directives to lockdown.
Mr Buhari on Sunday ordered total lockdown in Abuja, Lagos and Ogun to curb the spread of COVID-19.
Following this directive, FRSC Corps Marshal Boboye Oyeyemi has ordered the shutdown of the driver license centre.
Applicants can go via the By-pass mode to process for the license 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 endeavours 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 the provision of adequate water, soap and alcohol-based sanitizers at the Centres.
FRSC has 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 the physical presence of the applicant at the DLCs.
However, the drivers’ 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, Mr 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 the 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.”
