By SouthernVoicenews
Vehicle Inspection Officers in Uvwie, Warri and environs have been accused of constant harassment and extortion of commercial motorists, tricyclists and private vehicles owners daily.
Some motorists who spoke, said that VIOs were supposed to check the roadworthiness of vehicles when their owners come for renewal of their licenses, but alleged Nigerians who want to cut corners bypass them and get the necessary documents to keep putting food on their table.
The respondents said that they could not understand why vehicle inspection officers spend hours on the road waiting for them, according to them, they were ever so early to work, starting at dawn before official working hours and extort money from them over sundry issues.
It would be recalled that, it took an action by a legal practitioner in Warri, Mr Kunle Edun to bring to limelight the rights of citizens and the obligations of the vehicle inspection officers.
In an Appeal Court ruling in Delta State, on September 21, 2022, the presiding judge ruled that vehicle inspection officers had no business being on the road, among other things.
Some tricycles operators, who spoke, said that VIOs were not forthright with their duty when they were on operation in the road.
They claim that the officials extorted money from them for various reasons, adding that in some cases, the officers would invite the police to work with them in flagrant disregard of the law.
The people are saying that with several task forces on the road mainly extorting motorists, sending the vehicle inspection officers back to their offices would be one irritation out of the way for them as they survive these compelling times in Nigeria.