The Chief Vehicle Inspection Officer (VIO) in Enugu State, Mr. Val Chime, has appealed to the state government to approve the recruitment of at least 60 new officers to strengthen the agency’s operations.
Speaking in Enugu on Monday, Chime explained that the agency currently operates across six zones but plans to expand coverage to more parts of the state to improve road safety and reduce accidents caused by unfit vehicles.
“At present, we have only 13 regular VIO officers in the system. We rely on ad-hoc staff to support daily inspections, but this is not sustainable,” he said. “Our workforce is aging, and we need younger officers who can be trained, mentored, and prepared to take over in the near future.”
Chime appealed to Governor Peter Mbah and the Commissioner for Transport, Dr. Obi Ozor, to consider the request. He pointed out that no state in Nigeria has fewer than 50 regular VIO officials, citing Anambra’s more than 200 officers across its 21 local government areas as an example.
The VIO boss also called for better logistics support, particularly operational vehicles, noting that the agency currently has none. “Operating without vehicles is highly discouraging,” he said.
While making his appeal, Chime commended Governor Mbah for investing in road infrastructure and modernizing transportation in the state. He highlighted the rehabilitation of roads in major cities, the introduction of 100 CNG buses, five new bus terminals, the Iji Card payment system, and the expansion of Enugu Air to national routes as “game-changing initiatives” for the state’s transport sector.
“These multi-modal systems, backed by technology and security, are attracting attention from other states. They show the vision of a governor committed to building a sustainable future for transport in Enugu,” Chime added.