Traffic Directors To Chart Course For Safer Roads At 2026 Conference
OLORUNDARE ENIMOLA, Lagos
Directors and Chief Road Traffic Officers from across Nigeria are expected to converge in Abuja on October 27 and 28 for the 2026 Annual National Conference of Directors and Chief Road Traffic Officers of the Federation, with renewed calls for urgent reforms aimed at strengthening Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) and improving road safety nationwide.
The conference, themed “Repositioning Motor Vehicle Administration for Safer Roads: Challenges and the Way Forward,” is expected to provide a platform for road traffic administrators, policymakers and key stakeholders to deliberate on institutional reforms, professional development and strategies for enhancing road safety across the country.
In a message ahead of the conference, National Chairman of the Conference of Directors and Chief Road Traffic Officers of the Federation, Durojaye Babawale Olalekan, described the gathering as timely, saying Nigeria’s road transport system is at a critical stage that requires coordinated action and renewed commitment from all stakeholders.
According to him, millions of Nigerians rely on the nation’s roads daily for business, education, healthcare and other socio-economic activities, yet the transport system continues to grapple with safety concerns, weak compliance with regulations and growing operational challenges.
Durojaye said the conference theme represents more than a slogan, describing it as “a call for reflection, professional renewal and collective action” to reposition Motor Vehicle Administration as a key pillar of road safety and sustainable transportation.
He noted that recent incidents involving Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIOs) and road users have highlighted the need to strengthen the country’s Motor Vehicle Administration framework.
He cited confrontations during enforcement operations, resistance to lawful regulations and attacks on officers carrying out their statutory responsibilities as issues requiring urgent attention.
The chairman also referenced a recent incident in Plateau State, where the state government ordered an investigation into a confrontation involving Vehicle Inspection Officers while reaffirming the need to protect officials performing their lawful duties.
He said governments and transport stakeholders are increasingly recognising the need to professionalise Motor Vehicle Administration institutions, improve their operational capacity and equip officers to perform their responsibilities more effectively.
Durojaye further welcomed recent clarifications by the Plateau State Government emphasising that the primary responsibility of Vehicle Inspection Officers is to ensure vehicle inspection and roadworthiness rather than revenue generation, describing the position as a reminder of the profession’s core mandate.
A major highlight of the conference, he disclosed, will be the adoption of the Abuja Declaration on Motor Vehicle Administration Reform, a policy document expected to outline practical measures for strengthening Motor Vehicle Administration institutions and improving road safety across Nigeria in the years ahead.
He urged Directors and Chief Road Traffic Officers from all states of the federation to prioritise participation in the conference, while appealing to state governments to support their delegations to ensure meaningful engagement.
Durojaye also called on development partners and other stakeholders in the transport sector to identify with the initiative, stressing that the conference offers a unique opportunity to reposition Motor Vehicle Administration, strengthen public institutions and reaffirm the profession’s commitment to protecting lives on Nigerian roads.
He added that Motor Vehicle Administration remains a critical component of road safety, national security and sustainable transportation development, and expressed confidence that the Abuja 2026 conference would provide a roadmap for lasting reforms in the sector.
