The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission has promised to assist member states to implement the Regional Vehicle Administration Information System (RVAIS) introduced recently, the official News Agency of Nigeria reported.
Jean de Dieu Somda, Vice-President of ECOWAS Commission, made the promise at a meeting of the chief executives of organizations responsible for road safety in the ECOWAS sub-region in Abuja on Thursday.
He said that RVAIS was a component of the Regional Trade Information System (RTIS) project which aimed to use information technology to facilitate trade among the member states.
"The RVAIS system will boost safety and increase confidence in the free movement of our citizens across borders while carrying out their legitimate businesses," he said.
He explained that the system includes vehicle licensing, administration and tracking of vehicles; drivers licensing and accident data, adding that the member states would retain their national identities, implementing agencies and revenue modes even when the RVAIS was fully implemented.
He added that RVAIS was the response of the commission to the yearnings of the people for safety and to combat problems related to movement of vehicles and peoples across the borders.
The ECOWAS chief expressed happiness that the system had been embraced by West African Road Safety Organization (WARSO) as a tool for regional control of vehicle licensing services.