The Chief Vehicle Inspection Officer (VIO) in Enugu State, Val Chime, has urged the state government to approve the recruitment of at least 60 new officers to strengthen the agency’s operations.
Speaking with journalists in Enugu on Monday, Mr. Chime explained that the request was necessary to provide adequate manpower for the planned expansion of the agency’s operational zones across the state. He revealed that the agency currently runs in six zones but intends to extend its services to all major routes to reduce accidents caused by rickety vehicles.
“At the moment, only 13 regular officers remain in the system,” he said. “To fill the gap, we resort to engaging ad hoc staff to sustain daily vehicle inspection duties. The workforce is ageing, and we need younger officers who can be trained, mentored, and prepared to eventually take over the job.”
Mr. Chime appealed to Governor Peter Mbah and the Commissioner for Transport, Obi Ozor, to urgently consider the request. He noted that Enugu lags behind other states in manpower, pointing out that Anambra State has over 200 regular VIOs distributed across its 21 local councils.
He also highlighted the agency’s logistical challenges, stressing the need for operational vehicles. “It is discouraging that we have no functional vehicle to carry out our duties effectively,” he added.
While commending the governor for the administration’s heavy investment in road infrastructure, Mr. Chime maintained that improved staffing and logistics would complement the ongoing road projects and enhance vehicle safety monitoring across the state.
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