*gives one month window for registration

By Watchmann

Dr. Julius Babogha, Consultant to the State government on the project who disclosed this to newsmen in Warri recently, said that the exercise will involve the profiling of all auto-mechanics, auto spray painters, auto parts dealers, auto electricians, auto panel beaters, amongst other related artisans across the State.

Babogha who stressed on the overwhelming advantages of the programme to include planning and making provisions of relevant infrastructure for the artisans to ply their trade, noted that government is interested in having a comprehensive database of all auto-related artisans in the State for the purpose of providing conducive atmosphere for their trade as well as checkmating the scourge of fakes amongst them.

“When we say profiling, it means the collection of data of all auto-mechanics and related artisans.  It is the stock-taking or record keeping of all mechanics operating by government within the confines of Delta State.

“Government is interested in who and who in the automobile business, both those who involved in selling auto parts and those who actually carry out repairs of vehicles for people. Government is doing this in order to reduce or eliminate completely certain anomalies associated with the practice.

“We have people who are not well trained as mechanics disguising as mechanics and all that. Government has to step in to say all these must stop.” he said.

Dr. Babogha further disclosed that the government has given “one month window for the affected artisans to obtain their permits and collect their ID cards”, adding that the registration exercise will take place in the Ministry of Transport Vehicles Inspection, VIO’s offices across.

He also stated that the consultancy office responsible for the registration is operating within the office of the VIO’s, adding that provision has been made for some of its officers to visit mechanic workshops to register those who could not reach to the VIO offices across the State.

Babogha further informed that the exercise which will be on for one month for data capturing will begin every working day from Monday to Friday, adding that a token of N5,000 will be collected from those registering.

According to the consultant, sensitization of the exercise is ongoing both in electronic and print media, nothing that the staff are on standby to respond to those who may invite them for the purpose of data capturing in their workshop as well.