The Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Mr Sola Giwa, has urged officers of the Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS) to foster stronger relationships with the public and respond to issues professionally.

Mr Giwa also urged the officers to manage perceptions effectively, and respond to issues with empathy.

He said this in a statement signed by the Deputy Director Public Affairs of the Ministry of Transportation, Bolanle Ogunlola, on Sunday in Lagos.

Mr Giwa made the appeal at the VIS three-day leadership and capacity-building workshop for its senior officers and zonal heads.

The workshop was aimed at strengthening professionalism, empathy, and public confidence in the agency’s operations.

The training with the theme, “Behind the VIO Badge: Transforming Perceptions, Building Trust,” was organised in collaboration with the Civility Institute of Nigeria.

The training focused on equipping officers with essential leadership skills, emotional intelligence, and effective communication techniques necessary for ethical and people-centred service delivery.

Mr Giwa described the training as a transformative initiative designed to help officers adopt strategies that improve public perception and reinforce trust in the service.

He stated, “Trust is built on transparency, consistency, and civility. All participants must apply the lessons learned to foster stronger relationships with the public, manage perceptions effectively, and respond to issues with professionalism and empathy.”

The Director of VIS,  Akin-George Fashola, said the programme represented a major milestone in the agency’s ongoing reform efforts to rebuild public confidence and project a culture of civility and discipline among officers.

He said, “We want our officers to be true ambassadors of safety, discipline, and integrity. This initiative reinforces the values that define our identity behind the uniform.”

He added that the training aligned with the Lagos State Government’s vision of developing a disciplined, responsive, and service-driven workforce across its transport management sector. 

(NAN)